Angela Morabito discusses the disparities in education access caused by current funding structures that favor wealthier families. She argues for a shift in educational funding to follow children rather than be confined to specific schools, allowing all parents the freedom to choose their children's educational pathways.
1. Limited Choice for Lower-Income Families: Currently, education funding does not follow the child, which limits educational choices to parents who can afford additional expenses. Every parent deserves the freedom to choose their child's education without financial constraints.
2. Critique of Government Control in Education: As the school choice movement gains momentum, some advocate for the complete withdrawal of government involvement in education, suggesting all schools become private. However, this would disproportionately affect low-income families who cannot afford private education.
3. Current Funding Inequities: Despite significant public school spending$17,227 per student annuallymany students, especially from low-income families, fail to achieve proficiency in reading and math, highlighting the inefficiency of the current system.
4. Proposed Educational System: Morabito envisions a system where parents control tax dollars allocated for their child’s education, allowing funds to be used at whichever institution best fits the child's needs, whether public, private, or home schooling.
5. Double Payment Issue for Families: Homeschooling and private school families effectively pay twice for education: once through taxes and again through tuition or educational resources. This approach is financially burdensome and inequitable.
6. The Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA): The proposed ECCA aims to address these issues by offering federal tax credits for donations to scholarship organizations. This would allow parents to use funds for private school tuition or educational resources without government interference.
7. Importance of Funding Flexibility: Morabito emphasizes that the only requirement for education funding should be its use for educational purposes, advocating for a system that promotes parental control and competition among schools, ultimately leading to better educational outcomes.
Educational funding should not be limited to families who can afford additional expenses. By allowing funds to follow the child, every parent can have greater control over their child's education, improving accessibility and outcomes for all students. The Educational Choice for Children Act represents progress toward this goal, advocating for freedom and choice in education for all families, regardless of income.
No comments:
Post a Comment