Thursday, May 10, 2012
Ben Velderman
EAGnews.org (Education Action Group)
INDIANAPOLIS – Moms support school choice.
That’s the takeaway from a new national
poll that finds “a resounding 71 percent of moms” support giving all families school vouchers – regardless of income or special needs, reports the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice.
Essentially, school vouchers allow parents to use their child’s per-pupil state grant to pay for tuition at the school of their choice, including private and parochial schools, instead of having the state automatically send the money to the local public school.
Some states, notably Indiana and Wisconsin, currently give school vouchers to lower-income families, as a way of allowing disadvantaged kids to escape failing or under-performing government schools. Several other states are currently considering similar programs.
But the practice remains banned in most states, for purely political reasons. Teachers unions oppose vouchers because they allow formerly trapped students to leave public schools, which means public schools won’t need as many union teachers.
But this astonishing new poll finds that seven out of 10 moms want school vouchers for everyone, regardless of family income. That means America’s mothers are the most ambitious education reformers of all.
“The bond between mother and child is precious; moms want and need options to help them access whatever type of education their child may need,” said Friedman Foundation Vice President Leslie Hiner. “They will go to great lengths to find a school that will help their child be successful. That’s why moms support school choice.”
So in addition to giving Mom flowers this Sunday, consider sending an email to your local legislators telling them to support school vouchers. It would make her day.
