Indiana Lawmakers Approve Nation's Largest School Voucher Program

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana will create the nation's broadest private school voucher system and enact other sweeping education changes, making the state a showcase of conservative ideas just as Gov. Mitch Daniels nears an announcement on whether he will make a 2012 presidential run.

The Republican-controlled state Legislature handed Daniels a huge victory Wednesday when the House voted 55-43 to give final approval to a bill creating the voucher program that would allow even middle-class families to use taxpayer money to send their children to private schools.

Unlike other systems that are limited to lower-income households, children with special needs or those in failing schools, Indiana's voucher program will be open to a much larger pool of students, including those already in excellent schools. Families would have to meet certain income limits to qualify, with families of four making up to about $60,000 a year getting some type of scholarship.

Daniels' agenda mirrors ideas being pushed nationwide by Republicans empowered by 2010 election victories. But Daniels has successfully led Indiana – a conservative state not known for going out on a limb – into uncharted education territory.

"Other states are going to be taking notice about how far Indiana's going," said Robert Enlow, president of the Foundation for Educational Choice.

The successes couldn't come at a better time for the two-term governor, who has said he'll announce his intentions on a possible White House run sometime after the legislative session ends Friday.

House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said Daniels is thinking of what's best for kids, not his own political ambitions, when advocating the education overhaul.

"I'm sure he's not worried about a presidential run," Bosma said.

Opponents say Daniels' agenda will hurt public schools by taking money and students away. The voucher proposal was a key reason behind a five-week boycott earlier this session by House Democrats, who returned to the state after winning concessions on the voucher bill and other legislation.

"He says that his motivation is to improve student achievement, but so many of these reform measures are not aimed at improving student achievement," said Nate Schnellenberger, president of the state's largest teachers union. "He wouldn't be siphoning public money from public schools if he was concerned about those students who remain at public schools."

Lawmakers have also approved other parts of the governor's agenda, including his proposal aimed at expanding charter schools, merit pay for teachers and restrictions on teacher collective bargaining. Daniels has already signed the restrictions on collective bargaining into law and is expected to sign the other education bills in coming days.

Comments

[BlameThe1st]

04:39 PM on 05/21/2011

Q: How do you make a moonbat soil their britches?

A: Mention "privatization"!

[Davwbaird]

10:49 AM on 05/17/2011

One more rusty nail in the coffin.

[jt1980]

09:59 PM on 05/07/2011

I think in the short-term many people with vouchers will find to their surprise that their children could not get into private schools of choice either because (in some cases) test score wise their children could not compete, or (more likely) the schools would reject their attempt to enroll based on various criteria - as private schools do have stricter admission rules, or (most likely) the tuition is still not affordable.

The last can easily be explained given how the free market works: there are only a limited number of good private schools, and in the short-term, the private schools would not be able to increase their capacity significantly to satisfy the influx of new students. Because space is limited, and demand is high, the private schools would raise tuition (a common practice of private universities.) Thus the hopeful parents would find private schools still very much unaffordable.

[Davwbaird]

10:50 AM on 05/17/2011

ah, but then you have all those christian schools waiting for this moment and they don't give a crap, just as long there is $$.

[netminder69]

10:39 PM on 05/05/2011

i dont understand the resistance against this. if you look at the test sores of public VS private schools, the private schools outperform by a VERY wide margin. this would allow families that would otherwise not be able to afford a private school education to send their children to one.

the argument that it will divert money away from public schools doesn't make sense. If each student is allotted a set amount of money, the public school system will still have the same amount PER STUDENT to spend on education.

Maybe I'm missing something here...

[jt1980]

09:38 PM on 05/07/2011

A better comparison of test scores would between private and public schools with students with similar backgrounds. Private schools by their nature are selective in the students they admit. Therefore their students' test scores naturally would be higher than students from a broad swath of public schools. However, if you pick public schools from better-off neighborhoods, you'd find that the test score differences are negligible.

I think you missed the big picture on spending: because the state has a fixed amount of money to spend on education, the diverted money to the voucher programs would mean a total sum reduction on money for public schools. That'd create more pressure on the entire system.

[Bridgett Titus Sutton]

08:29 AM on 05/17/2011

Again the money goes with the student so if the student goes then ideally less money should be needed. Yes it does mean less money for the schools but it also means fewer students. What we need to be more worried about is how to get back to properly funding our schools. How many people complained when they capped our property taxes and wrote it into the state constitution? Let's complain about that to help fix the underfunded schools.

[Davwbaird]

10:51 AM on 05/17/2011

Boy you sure are great at passing along misinformation. Are you talking about charter schools, christian schools or boarding schools, like exeter?

[ProgressivesLoveAmerica]

01:02 PM on 05/03/2011

oh yeah, I'm sure letting the "free market" reform education for us is a great idea.

Nothing could possibly go wrong!

[cmr86]

12:05 PM on 04/28/2011

Welcome to the politics of "Shock Doctrine." May your unemployment rise, your education system falter (more than already is), and your social programs disappear.

[corwin]

12:19 PM on 04/28/2011

Diffidently, I want to point out,you're making yourself ridiculous with comments such as those.Indiana and Illinois are contiguous,have similar geography and similar population breakdown.The differences between the state s are dramatic,and expanding.AS Illinois worsens,Indian improves.I'm surprised you hadn't noticed.
And a quick pop quiz.
State with the highest unemployment?
State with the lowest bond rating?
State losing electoral votes?
State with declining average income?
State with net job loss?
state with lowest percent of hs kids attending college?
Now, some of my best friends were LiberalArts majors,and critical thought is tough for them,
But,do your best.

[Nom DePlum]

12:51 PM on 04/28/2011

I find it interesting that you chose to compare Indiana to Illinois rather than Ohio...or perhaps Kentucky?

Ohio and Kentucky, like IL, exist on the end of a spectrum. Indiana for many years rode nice and cozy in the middle. For longer than I can recall, we have existed in a more or less legislative deadlock that has kept either party from dominating the agenda and prevented heaps of stupidity from being defecated on Hoosiers in the form of legislation.

We didn't have an overly abused unemployment comp program, or our own electric code which mandates more expensive than necessary material, and other silliness, but we didn't have right to work or privatized education either. In other words, we were kind of moderate and happy. We were doing pretty well! I agree with you. We were doing better than either IL or Oh and KY.

Then the elections happened and now the republicans can crap on us without restraint...and they are.

Were following in the footsteps of KY and Ohio almost to the letter and putting ourselves right out of the far right of the spectrum where soon we too can't attract business because no decent employee wants to move to such a backwards state.

Stop being polemic and really look at what they have done over the last two days.

That flushing sound you are hearing is the sound of Indiana's future being "passed" by your Republican Majority.

[Bushido08]

11:40 AM on 04/28/2011

Hmm...school vouchers anc charter schools to me are all in the same bag. What limited experience I have with both makes me feel that this is a way to avoid fixing public schools. And it takes taxpayer money away from the public school system. In the area where I live I pay her taxes because the schools are better, that's one reason we moved here. Then came the argument for Charter schools and the justification being that people in neighboring counties that didn't pay as much tax for schools and did have the same quality public schools wanted their children to go to school in our area where the charter schools were being set up. Problem being our county had to come up with the facilities etc., for them and it sucked already short tax dollars away from our public schools. Sorry you want your kid to go to a private school or charter school..you pay for it out of your pocket. If you don't like your current public schools then get out there and get involved and fix them.

[MCWAY]

01:21 PM on 05/20/2011

And fixing the schools, with a bureauracy, hell-bent on keeping the status quo to line their own pockets, whether the kids get educated or not, is an exercise in futility.
 
Let the parents use their tax dollars to send their kids to the school of their choice. I would add that public schools should be added to this system. If the parents want to use another public school, fine!
 
If they want a secular private school, so be it. If they pick a religious private school, then let the kids go there. This is about educating the kids. Empower the parents; they shouldn't be at the mercy of the pathetic public school system.

[Nom DePlum]

11:39 AM on 04/28/2011

Once again, please let me apologize to the world for the rampant stupidity of our state.

Let me see, we sent women back 30 years yesterday, education back 100 years today, I think sharecropping and public lynchings are on the legislative agenda for next week.

All I am saying is that if you have even the least bit of color to your skin, don't think relations with farm animals is ok, and if your knuckles don't regularly drag on the ground while you mouth breath, Indiana might not be the state for you right now.

Luckily I am a lilly white albino gorilla who happens to find Colts cheerleaders quite fetching. I'll be ok. The rest of you should make a run for it though.

[cmr86]

12:04 PM on 04/28/2011

F&F'ed

[corwin]

12:31 PM on 04/28/2011

I think that's a great idea.As you know,the state of Illinois has blocked 94 and the Skyway,to keep Smart People from leaving.They haven't bothered -for obvious reasons- to keep people from entering.Illinois.Have you considerd making the trek.Apologizing for your state's rampant stupidity is nice,but,I'm sure you would raise the average IQ of the state by some fraction of a point by simply leaving.And,where better for a Non Smart person to move than Illinois ? You'd fit in nicely.And,maybe get get a public employee job.After all,everyone deserves one.
Sincerely,Corwin.a Smart Person who's trying to help

[Nom DePlum]

01:01 PM on 04/28/2011

Interesting you should mention moving to IL. I am actually part of an organization of business owners who have me working on a plan to do just that! Its one of several options we have on the table if a certain amendment to HB 1216 gets passed out of committee this week.

Near as I have been able to calculate it, we collectively employ about 2900 people in central Indiana alone. While the plan doesn't call for complete removal from the state and I personally think its unlikely we will abandon the market entirely, most of our effort would be directed...you guessed it, in IL. I would say about 2000 Hoosier families would lose their source of income.

So thanks for such a SPIFFING idea there skippy.

It just might happen!

[scruffyandspunky]

07:34 PM on 04/28/2011

I can tell from your poor grammar and lack of cogent argumentation that you must have been EDUCATED in INDIANA! Now, tell me I'm wrong. . . !

[AbstractImp]

06:14 AM on 04/28/2011

Class Divide Education.

[ZeraLee]

02:29 AM on 04/28/2011

I guess I can add Indiana to the list of states I would not want to live in. There won't be much left of America when the republicans get through with it.

The deal is to provide a public education to those who could not provide their own. The deal was NOT to subsidize private education with taxpayer money. This is a partisan misappropriation of taxpayer money.

[scruffyandspunky]

07:36 PM on 04/28/2011

Yeah, take it from me - a non-"Hoosier" living here, you really do not want to come! Sigh.

[MCWAY]

10:37 AM on 05/20/2011

Don't the parents make the call as to where they want to send their kids? Does this program allow parents to send their kids to other public schools or is it for just sending them to private schools?

[Kellyser]

12:46 AM on 04/28/2011

This is a rural State. I'm going to assume most of these private schools will be in heavy populated areas. Sorry kids in rural areas and small towns, while mom and dad are paying for other kid's vouchers, you're going to get left behind. Sorry Indiana teachers, you jobs and wages are in jeopardy.

They say you get the government you deserve, hoosiers, keep voting on abortion and gay rights, we are getting what we deserve.

[cmr86]

12:06 PM on 04/28/2011

I'm wondering how much this a strategic move to allow kids to go to schools that "...teach 'traditional' values."

Hope the women folk like frying pans and knitting in this new system of ours.

[MCWAY]

10:38 AM on 05/20/2011

What's wrong with that? My wife's a great cook and can sew.
 
She also has a Master's Degree in nursing.

[iblogleft]

12:33 AM on 04/28/2011

Privatizing schools should be considered an act of war on the people.

[BlameThe1st]

04:35 PM on 05/21/2011

So, allowing children from low-to-middle-income families to attend the same private schools that privileged rich kids attend is considered a war on the people?

You know what I consider a war on the people? Maintaining the status quo where poor people can only afford to send their children to public school which do a lousy job of educating their children; while rich people can afford to send their children to private and charter schools which do a much better job of educating their children.

Basically, attacking vouchers is maintaining the status quo. Poor people receive poor education and rich people receive proper education. Poor people get stuck with minimum wage jobs and are forced to obtain welfare. Rich people receive high-paying jobs and remain self-made. Now that’s what I call class warfare!

[Drivernorth]

12:11 AM on 04/28/2011

I wonder what the qualifications for teachers in a for profit education system will be?

[Greg Mirsky]

02:26 AM on 04/28/2011

Have you noticed any difference in doctor qualification whether you go into for profit practice/hospital or into non-profit one? You think you'd get better service if doctors were unionized? Do you care if surgeon has union card or not? Then why does matter with teachers? Because you used to.

[wmholt]

09:24 AM on 04/28/2011

Bad example. I'm a physician and nothing you say makes sense.

[scruffyandspunky]

07:40 PM on 04/28/2011

Oh, don't you know? Among the many provisions being passed into law, is one that removes the requirement for licensure of more than 50% of teachers in charter schools! In addition, teachers with advanced degrees (i.e., above a bachelor's) will not receive additional compensation. Fresh out of college and dumb as a rock is just fine for our kids!

[goldgoose]

11:57 PM on 04/27/2011

Very simply, this is a move to eliminate public schools. Public schools are forbidden to indoctrinate students in political, religious, or economic ideology and that is why private schools are founded and exist; private schools are parochial schools, specifically to indoctrinate students in a particular political, religious, or economic ideology. Public schools are required to be democratic and must refrain from indoctrinating students. Providing tax paid vouchers for students to attend private schools for indoctrinating students in religious, political, or economic ideology has always been considered unconstitutional until the present Neocon Republican majority of the Supreme court decided differently during the President G W Bush Administration; it is the same Supreme Court majority that put G W Bush in the Presidency.
Tax supported Public Schools were founded to support democracy in America and enlighten the electorate; providing tax supported vouchers for private schools is using tax money to indoctrinate students in other than democratic government. The Supreme Court decision allowing vouchers for private schools was a very bad decision for public schools and America.

[Greg Mirsky]

02:30 AM on 04/28/2011

"Public schools are forbidden to indoctrina­te students ..."
What a laugh! Public schools, public system of education indoctrinates, when it's social studies, not less than I was indoctrinated in back in the USSR. And what's worth noticing - with very similar biases.

[wmholt]

09:48 AM on 04/28/2011

And you've attended our public schools when? Social Studies? Do you know what that is?

[Kelly Jade]

11:40 AM on 04/28/2011

I agree that that is the ideal BUT I feel like the concessions made to religion (creationism) have started to overrun that in some areas.

[goldgoose]

11:00 AM on 05/20/2011

There can be no concessions to truth and liberty but there are unfortunately violations by the public schools from time to time. I agree that these violations are reprehensible. As a former public school teacher I am shamed by these violations and agree that we can only strive for the ideal.

[1LT]

11:49 PM on 04/27/2011

In Indiana the saying is "DITCH MITCH", not Mitch for Pres in 2012.
I Wonder WHY?

[IndianaMeg]

11:24 AM on 04/28/2011

Well.....we have another one that goes, "Mitch the B!tch." But I like either one. :-)

[MCWAY]

10:56 AM on 05/20/2011

Is that right? Let's see. Daniels wins re-election EASILY with 58% of the vote in 2008; Republicans CLOBBER the Democrats in the 2010 midterms, taking the state legislature.
 
YEAH!! The people of Indiana REAAAAAALY want Daniels gone, alright!