MY TURN: School choice is our future

Education choice is in our future, and it will be at least partially funded by tax dollars. The only question is how it will be structured. Choice options are popular with the public and the legislature will respond by passing a version in the near future.

I say this because the issue has matured and school choice has been adopted in various forms in many states in recent years, and the tide is coming our way. Those states include Florida, Iowa, Arkansas, Utah and Arizona.

In this past legislative session various proposals were advanced in the form of Senate Bill SB1038, House Bill HB289, and Senate Bill SB1161. All failed to achieve final passage for various reasons. They failed not because the issue doesn’t enjoy popular support but because none of the proposed bills were seen as best addressing the issue. New proposals will be advanced in the next session and in sessions to come until a consensus can be achieved between the house and the senate on a bill that the governor will sign.

Among the objections raised concerning the bills introduced were that choice is an attack on public education; home schoolers will be forced to accept conditions that they oppose; religious schools should not be allowed to receive tax dollars.

HB289 and SB1038 each provided that a student would receive approximately 80% of the amount of the public school per student allocation while 20% would remain with the appropriate public school. This actually raises the per pupil amount available to the public school.

Any proposal would be an “opt in” solution whereby no home schooler would be required to accept conditions coming with the funds and could choose not to participate. Regarding religious education, the courts have ruled that if an education choice is offered to secular schools, it must also be provided to religious schools.

An obvious concern about school choice is how can we be sure that students are actually and appropriately educated? That students are properly and thoroughly educated is essential for their future and for the future of our society. So, whatever educational choice program is adopted, accountability is essential. It seems to me that it requires testing periodically for proficiency in core subjects for which competency must be achieved for the good of the student and for the health of our society. Failure along the way should result in funds being withdrawn.

While I do not know what the most appropriate solution will look like, I am sure one will eventually pass and we should be sure that with whatever it is, freedom will be allowed, and competence will be demanded for funds to flow. Stay tuned for next January to see what comes our way and lobby to be sure the result achieves both freedom and effective education.

Dean Haagenson is a Rotarian, chamber member, former legislator and proud North Idaho Republican.