Republicans' big idea for remaking public education hits voter resistance
Source: Politico
11/27/2024 05:00 AM EST
An aggressive Republican campaign to pump hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into private education is continuing across the country, even after voters in three states rejected the idea.
Texas lawmakers are poised to debate a universal school voucher program next year, following Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts scorched-earth campaign to oust GOP lawmakers who thwarted his top priority. Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee and state legislative leaders have already reintroduced a school choice bill to provide thousands of students private education scholarships after a similar bill floundered last year amid resistance from rural lawmakers.
And North Carolina Republicans this month used the waning days of their legislative supermajority in the state House to override departing Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto of a bill that will inject upwards of half a billion dollars in new annual spending into a private school scholarship program that has tens of thousands of students waiting to participate. It came in over budget because so many families decided to avail themselves of this, Tim Moore, North Carolinas House speaker and a representative-elect, said of the states growing initiative. That says a lot right there about the popularity of the program.
Its a clash between legislative will, labor groups, and voter discontent over a policy trend thats already swept through much of the country. Teacher union leaders are scrambling to beat back new school choice bills in state legislatures measures they believe decimate funding for public schools. Theyre also organizing resistance to federal private school tax credit legislation endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump that has a path to approval in a Republican-controlled Congress.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/27/republican-school-voucher-program-expansion-voters-00191598
Fullduplexxx
(8,364 posts)Irish_Dem
(59,689 posts)Only people with money will be able to send their kids to school.
sop
(11,573 posts)nature-lover
(1,718 posts)In rural Texas, there aren't many, if any, private schools.
underpants
(187,341 posts)Ladythatvotesblue
(223 posts)conservative indoctrination is what they are aiming for. They want to keep kids educated to only what they think is right for your kids. They will grow up without the proper education. It started along time ago especially in the south. So I guess they not totally at fault for being stupid. That's why they voted for Trump.
Then you got the homeschoolers that don't know History, science, algebra, yet are teaching their kids. yeah right.
My town has a great public school, but I live in a red state and they are currently trying to fund these CHARTER schools at the expense of the great kids and teachers at local public schools.