by Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer
This year the school choice movement reached a milestone — Utah became the first state to sign a universal voucher law. Unlike other voucher programs, Utah’s would allow every child — regardless of income or geography — to receive public money to attend private school.
But a drive is under way to dismantle that plan before it can get off the ground this fall. Utahns for Public Schools, a coalition including the state’s teachers union and school boards association, is trying to gather enough signatures to take the voucher decision out of lawmakers’ hands and give it to voters.
“This is something that the voter ought to have the right to give his opinion on,” said Marilyn Kofford, the education commissioner of the state Parent Teacher Association, part of the coalition.
Midway through the legislative season, school choice proponents, who say vouchers can give disadvantaged public school students a chance to attend better schools, have had mixed results.
In January, the Georgia Senate passed a bill to set up a voucher program for students with learning disabilities. In February, more than 5,000 attended a school choice rally at the Texas Capitol. In March, an Arizona judge dismissed a suit against a new law giving tax credits to corporations that underwrite scholarships for poor children.
But opponents, who say vouchers drain funds from public schools, can point to some dramatic victories of their own. In March, while voucher-supporter Gov. Matt Blunt (R) looked on, the Republican-held Missouri House voted 96-62 against a bill that would have helped 8,000 students from St. Louis and Kansas City attend private schools. Later that month, voucher amendments to a South Carolina bill failed by seven votes in the House, partly because Rep. James Smith (D) flew home from Army National Guard training in Kansas to argue and vote against them.
Also last month, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) announced he wants to end the Ed Choice voucher program for students at failing schools, which began only this school year.
“Now you’re seeing a real response from the top saying ‘no, this isn’t a good use of taxpayer dollars and students are not achieving in these programs,’” said Nancy Van Meter of the American Federation of Teachers, which opposes vouchers.
But voucher advocates say public acceptance of school choice reform is growing.
