Greg Abbott signs Texas school voucher bill into law.

[ThatRobGuy]

That's what I've been hearing for years. They perform better on standardized tests, have better social skills, and can learn quicker. I'm sure it has its advantages.

The thing to keep in mind...

That's true only if you're taking into account the the kids who are in states where homeschooling programs have to be accredited and that require some sort of testing.


In essence, it's a bit of a sampling bias.

Parents in states that either require kids to undergo testing, or who voluntarily sending their kids for standardized testing are clearly taking it a little more seriously than the homeschooling parents who opt for unaccredited/unstructured "off-the-grid" homeschooling...and the ones doing the latter certainly aren't going to be voluntarily sending their kids in for testing.

I've mentioned it before, but within my own extended family, I've seen both ends of that bell curve.

The one set of cousins in an accredited homeschooling program did very well, academically. (it was a correspondence school with digital learning)

The other set out in Indiana (where there is no testing requirement and it's a little more of the homeschooling wild west) struggled quite a bit.
A) Because their diplomas weren't recognized and had to get GEDs
B) When the time came, half them couldn't even pass their GED tests

 

[RileyG]

The other set out in Indiana (where there is no testing requirement and it's a little more of the homeschooling wild west) struggled quite a bit.
A) Because their diplomas weren't recognized and had to get GEDs
B) When the time came, half them couldn't even pass their GED tests

Yikes! That's not good!

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Yikes! That's not good!

Yeah, that particular wing of the extended family opted to not send their kids to public school for religious/ideological reasons and didn't want their kids learning anything about that would be anti-biblical (this is going back a few decades, so their main objection at the time was that they didn't want their kids learning anything in science classes that would go against young earth creationism)

On the other side of the family (the ones that did the accredited correspondence course), they were fine with the public school curriculum, they were more of the over-protective types who were afraid that their kids may get picked on or hurt at school, and preferred to try to keep them in a safety bubble. -- which is also presents some challenges, just for different reasons.

 

[RileyG]

Yeah, that particular wing of the extended family opted to not send their kids to public school for religious/ideological reasons and didn't want their kids learning anything about that would be anti-biblical (this is going back a few decades, so their main objection at the time was that they didn't want their kids learning anything in science classes that would go against young earth creationism)

On the other side of the family (the ones that did the accredited correspondence course), they were fine with the public school curriculum, they were more of the over-protective types who were afraid that their kids may get picked on or hurt at school, and preferred to try to keep them in a safety bubble. -- which is also presents some challenges, just for different reasons.

Wow. I have no words.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

As someone who receives both public / private and home schooled kids in the military, I have had both very smart sailors from both environments as well as people who would make a rock look smart. The main difference that I have encountered is that the home schooled sailors are a little harder to adjust to working together in groups. Not all mind you, but some are more socially awkward when working with others.

 

[Meowzltov]

Private school vouchers are now law in Texas. Here’s how they will work.

Texas will give participating families about $10,000 to pay for their kids’ private schooling. Other details about the program, set to launch in 2026, are unclear.

www.texastribune.org

I think this is amazing. Hopefully this becomes a trend with more states.

I have no problems with religious charter schools getting government funds. But I do wonder if the Christians rooting for this realize what they are getting.

In order not to violate the establishment clause, the government would need to support charter schools of all religions. Jewish charter schools. Buddhist charter schools. Muslim charter schools. Wiccan charter schools. Heck, I'm absolutely positive that before the ink is dry on the signature, the Satanic Temple will be designing their own charter schools. I'm fine with all that. Are you?

 

[Oompa Loompa]

I have no problems with religious charter schools getting government funds. But I do wonder if the Christians rooting for this realize what they are getting.

In order not to violate the establishment clause, the government would need to support charter schools of all religions. Jewish charter schools. Buddhist charter schools. Muslim charter schools. Wiccan charter schools. Heck, I'm absolutely positive that before the ink is dry on the signature, the Satanic Temple will be designing their own charter schools. I'm fine with all that. Are you?

I am okay with that. As long as the kids are being given a better education and a better chance for success, I really don't care what faith tradition they are learning it from. Unless they are being groomed into becoming radical Islamic extremist.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

I am okay with that. As long as the kids are being given a better education and a better chance for success, I really don't care what faith tradition they are learning it from. Unless they are being groomed into becoming radical Islamic extremist.

All extremists or just Islamic.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

If any student leaves, their funding goes with them.

Then the public schools better step up their game if they want to keep the kid's money. Seeing how that is their primary concern. Their education sure isn't.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Then the public schools better step up their game if they want to keep the kid's money. Seeing how that is their primary concern. Their education sure isn't.

Lately it seems keeping them off the streets during business hours is the goal.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

then you have to wonder why we pay more per student than most countries around the world, with poor outcomes

Because the funding isn't going to the children's education. Where it actually goes? Who knows. But it isn't going to education. Probably vacations for the teacher's unions or something.

 

[Meowzltov]

I am okay with that. As long as the kids are being given a better education and a better chance for success, I really don't care what faith tradition they are learning it from. Unless they are being groomed into becoming radical Islamic extremist.

I agree. Especially when you consider the epic failure of public schools to teach basic reading, writing, and math, we really have to do SOMETHING to open up opportunities for the poor to get a decent education.

My only quibble would be that all charter schools show proof of adequate education in the basics. IOW, if some Haredi school wants boys to study Talmud all day but won't teach them enough math to make it in regular society, then they don't get charter school status.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Because the funding isn't going to the children's education. Where it actually goes? Who knows. But it isn't going to education. Probably vacations for the teacher's unions or something.

I know things have changed since I was in school, we had to provide our own school supplies and that was it. When my kids were in school in Michigan 2008-2018, we also had to supply markers for the marker board, kleanx, 30 rolls of toilet paper, 18 rolls of paper towels, a case of water bottles, and possibly more. My oldest daughter is as dumb as a rock. She passed geometry because she had perfect attendance and didn't have to take the final exam. My middle daughter likes to say her sister got an F plus. They rounded her grade from F to the lowest D minus.

 

[essentialsaltes]

In order not to violate the establishment clause, the government would need to support charter schools of all religions. Jewish charter schools. Buddhist charter schools. Muslim charter schools. Wiccan charter schools. Heck, I'm absolutely positive that before the ink is dry on the signature, the Satanic Temple will be designing their own charter schools. I'm fine with all that. Are you?

Some people (who should no better) are not fine with it.

From Florida...

FL Cabinet members question receipt of taxpayer dollars by Islamic schools​

The state’s expanded ‘school choice’ voucher system allows funding for these schools.​

All three members of the Florida Cabinet are questioning the legality of the state voucher system that has steered taxpayer-funded scholarships to private Islamic schools that they contend undermine “Western” values.

Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, all Republicans and allies of the governor, are wondering whether Florida’s universal school voucher system allowing Floridians to attend certain private schools at discounted rates can be properly extended to the Hifz Academy and Bayaan Academy, Islamic schools in Tampa now accepting these scholarships.

The Cabinet, although powerful, lacks authority to set policy or stymie funding from the state to specific schools. That power resides with the Department of Education, which did not respond to a request for comment.

Hifz Academy has brought in $15,711,396 in scholarship funds since 2015 while Bayaan Academy has brought in $2,668,694 since 2017, according to data from Step Up. Of note, parents decide where the scholarship funds go, not Step Up.

[Although there are accusations from rightwing activists (and these politicians) that 'sharia' is being taught at these schools, they have not presented any evidence of it. ]