Louisiana moves to privatize public education

[allingeneral]

(Reuters) - Louisiana is embarking on the nation's boldest experiment in privatizing public education, with the state preparing to shift tens of millions in tax dollars out of the public schools to pay private industry, businesses owners and church pastors to educate children.

Starting this fall, thousands of poor and middle-class kids will get vouchers covering the full cost of tuition at more than 120 private schools across Louisiana, including small, Bible-based church schools.

The following year, students of any income will be eligible for mini-vouchers that they can use to pay a range of private-sector vendors for classes and apprenticeships not offered in traditional public schools. The money can go to industry trade groups, businesses, online schools and tutors, among others.

Every time a student receives a voucher of either type, his local public school will lose a chunk of state funding.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/ ... AG20120601

[ShotgunBlast]

Awesome for giving the parents a choice. Like the article says, buyer beware when choosing a school.

If I had kids I'd choose to homeschool them, but I know that option isn't available to everyone.

[FiremanBob]

This is every bit as big as Walker's victory against the forces of corruption in WI.

A freely competitive market in education is exactly the right solution for both improving the quality and lowering the cost of education.

My GF and I are actually thinking of starting a private school based on the most innovative education methods such as those of Escalante and Sloyd.

[kelu]

I am afraid that the end result will not be the lowering cost.

[ratherfish]

I'd be up for paying a bit more for a quality education and freedom from the public school system progressive re-education camps.

[Kreutz]

Intriguing.

I know LA has seriously undereducated kids; are they giving up or just dumping them on someone else?

I also wonder what the DOJ, prodded by the Edumacashun Dopemartmunt will have to say about this?

[ratherfish]

Self portrait?