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Parents, teachers decry voucher proposals 'Misplaced priority' would divert tax dollars to private & religious schools
March 2, 2006 Listening to NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi, left, are Janet Ahola, state PTA; Barbara Bartoletti, state League of Women Voters; NEA-NY's Kathleen Lyons; and Michael Davoli of the Alliance for Quality Education. Parents, educators and taxpayers from a wide spectrum of groups are telling lawmakers to reject voucher schemes as a misplaced priority. Calling proposals for so-called education tax credits a "callous and reckless slap at the state's neediest students," the coalition of more than a dozen organizations said the two voucher-like proposals being floated in Albany would divert anywhere from $400 million to $1.2 billion in tax dollars to private and religious schools. Meanwhile, court-ordered funding needs for public education remain unmet. The state Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, which is chaired by Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, issued its own budget analysis rejecting voucher schemes. The caucus was held the same week a well-funded coalition of voucher proponents from religious and private schools staged a rally at the Capitol. "Public schools need more capacity, not less, to educate all students to high standards," said Maria DeWald, president of the state Parent Teachers Association. "Every child deserves equal access to an excellent education. That means using our government's resources to close gaps, not create them; to raise student achievement for all and not just for some." Public funds should go to public education, said Barbara Bartoletti, legislative director for the state League of Women Voters. "Every student is and should be an informed voter by having the best public education." Gov. Pataki has proposed tax credits vouchers for parents with family income up to $90,000 in districts with at least one school in need of improvement, with the biggest beneficiaries being parents who already send their children to private or religious schools, union analysts note. Pataki's voucher-like plan calls for up to a $500 tax credit per child to eligible families with a price tag of $400 million. An even more expensive proposal sponsored by Sen. Marty Golden, R-Brooklyn, and Assemblyman Vito Lopez, D-Brooklyn, would provide a tax credit of up to $3,500 per child, with a pricetag of at least $1.2 billion. Mean-while, the state Supreme Court in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case has directed the state to redress inequities in public school funding. "It's the height of hypocrisy to break out a shell game voucher plan that only gives false hope and bogus promises to parents who want a greater investment in public education for their children," said Edward McCormick, chairman of the Educational Conference Board, a coalition of education organizations including parents, teachers, school administrators and school board members. New York State United Teachers President Dick Iannuzzi said backdoor vouchers under the guise of tuition tax credits are "nothing more than a Trojan horse that would drain hundreds of millions from public education that serves all students." In a tactic used in other states, proponents have said tax credits could be used by eligible families for tutoring, in an attempt to convince public school parents to support proposals that would primarily benefit those already sending their children to religious and private schools. In reality, students in underperforming schools are already guaranteed free tutoring under the No Child Left Behind Act. In New York City, "the $400 million being set aside for a tax credit could actually solve a real problem now,"said Randi Weingarten, president of the United Federation of Teachers. Those resources are needed, she said, to help reduce class sizes, build science labs at city middle and high schools, or fund universal all day pre-kindergarten. "What is the priority?" asked the Alliance for Quality Education's Michael Davoli. "Funding vouchers for a select group of students or providing the funds needed for all of the public schools throughout the state?" Plans that drain public school funds are "irresponsible and reprehensible for the state to even consider," Davoli said. "This proposal has no accountability whatsoever," said Dave Little of the state School Boards Association. "There is nothing to show what you do will improve kids." Closing the gap Voucher plans divert funds that could better be used to "triple the number of children in pre-K programs, provide an inflation adjustment to STAR benefits, hire more teaching assistants for students struggling to reach state standards or close the spending gap between high-need districts and their better-off peers." said Thomas Rogers, NYS Council of School Superintendents executive director. NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira said, "Instead of tackling the achievement gap head on, the proposed executive budget is dismantling our public schools. It is resorting to gimmicks and schemes that hurt the vast majority of our children and families." NYSUT's Iannuzzi noted that "more money does translate into higher scores, especially in the districts with the greatest need." — Clarisse Butler Banks |
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