Letters: Vouchers that help some shouldn't punish others
Too many of our children are locked into public schools that are failing them. In recent years, the state has invested in improving our public schools through a formula whose goal is to provide the necessary support for students to meet state-achievement criteria. Funding the formula has consistently improved student achievement, but concerns about the pace of change and the adequacy of funding continue.
Too many of our children are locked into public schools that are failing them. In recent years, the state has invested in improving our public schools through a formula whose goal is to provide the necessary support for students to meet state-achievement criteria. Funding the formula has consistently improved student achievement, but concerns about the pace of change and the adequacy of funding continue.
We urge that any school-choice bill slated to provide funding for students to leave district-managed schools be limited to low-income students in currently failing schools ("Hundreds rally for school choice," Wednesday). Schools that are eligible to receive students must have a record of academic success, meet quality standards, and accept all children eligible through a fair system such as a lottery.
We must be able to vouch for the success of the vouchers, to ensure that this new initiative will not come at the expense of the regular public schools, which will still educate the majority of K-12 students. We must be able to vouch that the kids in the sending schools will not be shortchanged, and that schools receiving vouchers will not exclude "certain" children.
We must be able to vouch that the vouchers will work to make our public dollars work well for all our kids.
Shelly D. Yanoff
Executive Director
Public Citizens for Children and Youth
Philadelphia