Yesterday, the Governor of Utah signed a bill that will provide vouchers for over half a million kids attending Utah’s public schools. The program, which will begin this fall, will grant vouchers from $500 to $3000 per student, based on the family’s income.

The bill states “parents are presumed best informed to make decisions for their children, including the educational setting that will best serve their children’s interests and educational needs.”

That sounds like common sense to me. Think little Erskine would do best at the public school across the street? Utah will provide for his education. Think the Catholic or Montessori or Scientology gradeschool across town would be best? Utah will help you send him there too. This bill helps parents of every income level make sound educational choices for their children.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Stephen Urquhart went to extraordinary lengths to ensure that the bill wouldn’t hurt public schools financially. For funding purposes, schools will be able to count students who transfer for five years. Utah’s public schools are funded through the state’s income tax, and voucher funding will come from the general fund. In the surrounding debate, no one could prove that the program would hurt public schools. Despite this, nearly the entire education establishment opposed the bill.

My main concern with voucher programs in general is that when government provides the funding, they also have the ability to control how that money is spent. But, for now parents may choose any school that meets the following requirements: employs college-educated or skilled teachers, operates outside a residence, enrolls at least 40 students and does not discriminate based on race, color or national origin. They must give parents the results of a standardized test once a year and submit to a financial audit once every four years.

Rep. Urquhart’s blog, www.politicopia.com has great information on the pros and cons of the bill. Check it out, then come back here and discuss.

Do you think Oregon has a chance of passing a similar law? Would you vote for it if you could? What would it take for the education establishment to support voucher programs?