How much worse do things need to get before it is considered an emergency situation and emergency measures are taken?
Enough Is Enough
Jamie Story, Houston Chronicle, made comments on Houston’s high drop out rates and has asked citizens to consider school choice as an alternative to the problem.
Is Houston the only major city in Texas with such appalling graduation rates? No, San Antonio and Dallas are right behind Houston. 93 students drop out of Texas public schools -- each hour of every day.
School Choice Research
Researcher Jay Greene of the Manhattan Institute found that when parents are allowed school choice the graduation rates improve. How does school choice work?
For every student that chooses to attend a private school, there is $5000 to $13,000 that does not go to the public school. Instead, a "reduced amount" of funding follows the student to the private school. Actually, the voucher system is a savings to taxpayers. School vouchers recently failed in Utah.
Story states that the voucher system creates competition and both the private and public sector improve. Lack of competition often produces apathy.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee has the oldest voucher system in the U.S. and the program has been a great cost saving to taxpayers. And Milwaukee’s public school graduation rates have improved under the 16 years of school choice.
Story issues the challenge to give school choice a chance in Texas.
Source: Jamie Story, chron.com, Jan. 29, 2007
Related articles: 10% of Schools Dropout Factories, School Proficiencies Inconsistent
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
