10 essential questions on school vouchers

What are vouchers and how would they work?

If Senate Bill 1 passes, parents of low-income students in "persistently failing" schools (144 in the state, 91 of them in Philadelphia) can apply for an "Opportunity Scholarship" to pay tuition at a public school outside of the students' district, or at a nonpublic (private or religious) school. In Philadelphia, the amount of the "scholarship" would be $7,100 - the amount the state pays to educate each pupil here.

Who will qualify?

 In the first year, families whose incomes are up to 130 percent of (the federal) poverty level and who have children who are attending a failing school will qualify. This means a family of four making around $28,000 a year. In Philadelphia, 51,000 students meet that standard for poverty and a failing school.

In the second year, all income-qualified children who live within the boundaries of a low-achieving school qualify, even if they are already in a nonpublic school. By the third year, all families meeting the income requirement will qualify, whether their children are in private or public schools, even if their child is not in a failing school.

My child is in special education. Will he qualify?

 Students whose needs qualify them for special-education subsidies will be eligible for the program, although they will get the same scholarship amount as the other students in their district. Nonpublic schools cannot discriminate against students based on their disabilities. But students can be excluded if the nonpublic school believes it doesn't have the facilities or programs to meet the special needs of the student.

If I get a voucher, can I enroll my child in any school I want?

 Nonpublic schools don't have to accept everyone who applies. Schools can decide that a student isn't qualified for their "particular areas of concentration." But students can't be discriminated against because of race.

What's the source of the money?

 Each school district in the state spends a certain amount per pupil on education (ranging from $1,842 to $15,343; on average, $5,131). The commonwealth's share of this amount will be used to determine the amount of the scholarship. That share of Philadelphia's per-pupil amount is $7,100, so that will be the amount of each voucher in Philadelphia. Students who use vouchers to go to another school essentially take that money with them - and beginning in the student's second year in the program, the public school district they leave loses that amount. (In the first year of the program, the state covers the cost.)

What happens if the tuition at the school I want to send my child to is more than my voucher?

 You will be responsible for the difference, but the tuition the school charges you can't exceed the tuition it normally charges others. You may be eligible for other forms of financial assistance.

What if my child doesn't stay in the nonpublic school?

The school will be required to return the unused portion of the voucher to the parent, and the parent will have to return it to the state, unless the child goes to another nonpublic school.

If I qualify for a scholarship for my child, will I get it every year that my child is in school?

Yes, as long as the family still meets the income guidelines and the funding is available. The annual amount of the voucher could drop if state appropriations fall or if the number of families seeking vouchers rises. If the family's income no longer qualifies, the child will still be able to get the scholarship through the eighth grade, but the amount will be adjusted based on the increase in family income.

If I enroll my child in a nonpublic school, who pays for transportation?

As long as the "home" school district provides transportation to students who attend its schools, that district also pays for transportation to and from the nonpublic school as long as it is within 10 miles of the child's original district.

What rights do students and families have under the voucher program in the nonpublic schools?

Nonpublic schools are not required to follow the same laws as public schools, such as academic standards, teacher certification or special education. Also, due- process rights for suspension or expulsion may not apply.

TOP ARGUMENTS FOR THE VOUCHER BILL

- Children shouldn't be penalized for living in the wrong ZIP code. Some public schools are succeeding, and some are persistently failing. Parents who live in a neighborhood with a failing school should have the opportunity to send their child to a better one.

- The preponderance of poor black children in failing schools is a civil-rights issue - vouchers can help level the playing field.

- More choice will provide a competitive incentive for all schools to do better, including the failing public schools.

TOP ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE VOUCHER BILL

- Vouchers violate the notion of the separation of church and state. Though the Supreme Court has ruled that vouchers are legal, public dollars should not be spent on private or religious schools that aren't subject to oversight, regulations or accountability.

- Public schools, which must take everyone, provide the foundation for a democratic society. Private and parochial schools don't have to accept special-education students and those whom they think won't meet their academic standards.

- The program will drain resources even further from the public systems, particularly from schools that are already struggling. This makes it unfair for the children left behind in those schools.

- Public schools aren't part of the free-market economy, and so the idea of competition doesn't apply, especially since they rely on the government for funding. The best way to ensure equal education for all is to make sure every school is funded equally.

- By Sandy Shea