Excellent and much-needed article. I had been thinking of old studies on vouchers I had read a long time ago, wondering if it would be worth it to dig into them for a history-backed look at vouchers.... Thank you for doing just that!
PS My piece on "Unfair Schools, Unfair Taxes: The New Hampshire Way" ran in today's Concord Monitor.
Sorry that's such a long post but I thought you might like to see the copy of the article. What I'd like is a public debate between Drew Cline and say the relevant RHNH policy expert to address the divergence in predicted cost/benefit or lack thereof to the NH taxpayer.
Thanks for warrant article. Of course, you know the voucher column started as my off-handed advice to you for your presentation in Grantham. Thanks also for doing the presentation. Others should take note of the warrant article, too.
Thanks for the summary of Cowan's book, which I found riveting but hard to recreate in conversation. Of note, Drew Cline, of the Josiah Bartlett Center has estimated a cost of the expanded voucher program to be a fraction of what RHNH estimates. It took some effort to understand this and I still don't completely. This was salient as I pulled together a presentation for my town meeting in Grantham on the topic of school funding and vouchers. We passed it (by unanimous voice vote) as did 17 other towns/school committees (or a version of it). A copy was sent to every senator, rep and to the governor.
A Call for Fiscal Responsibility for Taxpayer Funds in Private
Education
Whereas, taxpayers have a right to know exactly how their money is
spent and deserve clear, verifiable evidence that it is being spent wisely
and delivering results; and
Whereas, New Hampshire’s public schools are disproportionately
funded by local taxpayers, driving higher property taxes; and
Whereas, taxpayer dollars are being diverted from public schools to
private and religious education through Education Freedom Accounts
(vouchers), but this shift does not reduce public school costs, leaving
local taxpayers to cover the shortfall through higher property taxes; and
Whereas, New Hampshire will have spent over $70 million on the
voucher program by the end of this school year, with any expansion
increasing the financial burden on local property owners; and
Whereas, unlike public schools, private education funded by taxpayers
through vouchers lacks key accountability measures, such as reporting
how funds are used, tracking student performance, ensuring services
for students with disabilities, and conducting background checks for
staff;
Therefore, we, the voters of Grantham, New Hampshire, call on our
elected officials to uphold their duty of fiscal responsibility by rejecting
any expansion of taxpayer funding for private education until we have
full accountability, transparency, and a sustainable funding plan that
ensures no further strain on public schools or local property taxpayers.
Excellent and much-needed article. I had been thinking of old studies on vouchers I had read a long time ago, wondering if it would be worth it to dig into them for a history-backed look at vouchers.... Thank you for doing just that!
PS My piece on "Unfair Schools, Unfair Taxes: The New Hampshire Way" ran in today's Concord Monitor.
Ted
Wonderful piece. Thanks for writing and for tip of the hat at the end. https://www.concordmonitor.com/unfair-taxes-unfair-schools-new-hampshire-my-turn-concord-monitor-61312589
Sorry that's such a long post but I thought you might like to see the copy of the article. What I'd like is a public debate between Drew Cline and say the relevant RHNH policy expert to address the divergence in predicted cost/benefit or lack thereof to the NH taxpayer.
Thanks for warrant article. Of course, you know the voucher column started as my off-handed advice to you for your presentation in Grantham. Thanks also for doing the presentation. Others should take note of the warrant article, too.
Thanks for the summary of Cowan's book, which I found riveting but hard to recreate in conversation. Of note, Drew Cline, of the Josiah Bartlett Center has estimated a cost of the expanded voucher program to be a fraction of what RHNH estimates. It took some effort to understand this and I still don't completely. This was salient as I pulled together a presentation for my town meeting in Grantham on the topic of school funding and vouchers. We passed it (by unanimous voice vote) as did 17 other towns/school committees (or a version of it). A copy was sent to every senator, rep and to the governor.
A Call for Fiscal Responsibility for Taxpayer Funds in Private
Education
Whereas, taxpayers have a right to know exactly how their money is
spent and deserve clear, verifiable evidence that it is being spent wisely
and delivering results; and
Whereas, New Hampshire’s public schools are disproportionately
funded by local taxpayers, driving higher property taxes; and
Whereas, taxpayer dollars are being diverted from public schools to
private and religious education through Education Freedom Accounts
(vouchers), but this shift does not reduce public school costs, leaving
local taxpayers to cover the shortfall through higher property taxes; and
Whereas, New Hampshire will have spent over $70 million on the
voucher program by the end of this school year, with any expansion
increasing the financial burden on local property owners; and
Whereas, unlike public schools, private education funded by taxpayers
through vouchers lacks key accountability measures, such as reporting
how funds are used, tracking student performance, ensuring services
for students with disabilities, and conducting background checks for
staff;
Therefore, we, the voters of Grantham, New Hampshire, call on our
elected officials to uphold their duty of fiscal responsibility by rejecting
any expansion of taxpayer funding for private education until we have
full accountability, transparency, and a sustainable funding plan that
ensures no further strain on public schools or local property taxpayers.