You

1
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
You!
2
Our Choice

• Vouchers Tax Credit Charter Schools

3
Introduction

• Our Question
• What impact does allowing parents or guardians
  to decide what school to send their children to
  have on the society, community, and education in
  both positive and negative ways? If they choose
  not to have their children attend the school
  within their living boundaries, should they be
  allowed to transfer their funding to the new
  school or should it stay with the boundary
  school? Should the state help to support this
  movement?

4
Tuition Tax Credits

• One option in school choice.

5
Tuition Tax CreditsWhat are they?

• A program in which taxpaying parents would
  receive a direct credit on their taxes for part
  or all of the expenses they have incurred in
  educating their children.

6
History

• Intent to increase parental choice through tax
  credits started in the late 1960s.
• In the 1970s state legislatures pushed for tax
  credits for the families whose children attended
  private schools or college.
• The motion was not pushed forth for rulings that
  stated tax credits would be providing direct
  public monies to religious schools.

7
History cont.

• The 1980s brought more tax credit plans that
  were turned down by congress.
• The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 finally brought
  our current college tax credits
• Hope Scholarships
• Lifetime Learning Credits
• Education IRAs

8
Current K12 Tax Credits

• a. Education tax credits for expensesExamples
  include a nonrefundable
• credit granted to families who claim public or
  private school expenses,
• including tuition (Illinois, Iowa), a refundable
  credit for public or private
• school expenses, excluding tuition (Minnesota),
  and a nonrefundable
• credit for contributions by individuals to public
  schools (Arizona).
• b. Education tax deductions for expensesA
  deduction is granted to
• families who claim public and private school
  expenses, including tuition
• (Minnesota).
• c. Education tax credits for contributions to
  STOsA nonrefundable credit
• is granted to individuals or corporations who
  make charitable contributions
• to nonprofit STOs. The STOs distribute tuition
  scholarships to
• families who sign up to receive a scholarship for
  their children (Arizona,
• Pennsylvania, Florida).

9
Pros and Cons
Pro
Con

• It gives private school students a tax break from
  state money reserves and not from state education
  funds.
• It doesnt interfere directly with giving public
  money to private religious schools as vouchers
  do.

• It furthers the controversial issue of the
  privatization of education.
• Law makers worried it wont give parents more
  power over school choice, as the tax credit would
  most likely only help the upper class whose
  students already attend private schools by giving
  them a tax break.

10
Bills on Education Tax Credits

• In Utah and in states around the U.S., bills
  surrounding school choice and tax credits are
  constantly being introduced to the legislatures.
• To date in Utah, a few have been looked into and
  even studied but none have yet to pass.

11
How does it affect Utah?

• Many bills over the last several years.
• Most bills in Utah concern other methods of
  school choice.
• Bills concerning tax credits have not gone
  through.
• From past bill history, tax credit issue will
  likely resurface in the near future.

12
What Can We Do?

• Parents and teachers who are in favor of
  Education Tax Credits can participate in school
  board and state legislature discussion on the
  issue.
• Petitions can be signed
• Write your local representative.

13
Vouchers

• What are vouchers

• A voucher is a scholarship funded by the
  government to assist in the payment of tuition at
  a private institution both secular and religious.

• Historical context of vouchers

• Adam Smiths Wealth of Nations and Thomas Pains
  The Rights of Man
• Vermont 1869 tuition help for secondary
  education
• Utah 2007 Begins voucher program

14
Vouchers

• Governing Laws

• Eligibility
• Value based on a sliding scale 500 to 3000

• How does a voucher work

• Application State Board of Education
• Awarding
• Schools Must apply and meet criteria

15
Vouchers

• Impact of vouchers

• Public Schools will they lose money

• Pros and Cons

• Pros Attempts to even out the playing field of
  education
• Cons Its not evening out the playing field of
  education

16
Vouchers
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v8s4E2CFT17c
Legislation and Education Sites that can be
useful
http//www.utea.org/ http//www.le.state.ut.us/ ht
tp//www.usoe.k12.ut.us/ http//www.choiceineducat
ion.org
17
Charter SchoolorTraditional Public School?
18
Must accept all students. There is some
provision with regard to behavior.
Charter School - Traditional Public School - Both
answer
19
Traditional Public School
20
There are some legal restrictions on curriculum
concerning topics and presentation of certain
subject matter (religion, sexual education,
hygiene practices, etc.) unless a waiver is
granted.
Charter School - Traditional Public School - Both
answer
21
Charter School
22

Charter School - Traditional Public School - Both
Accreditation Required
answer
23
Both
24
Accountable to No Child Left Behind, U-PASS, and
other tests.
Charter School - Traditional Public School - Both
answer
25
Traditional Public Schools
Charter SchoolsOther tests as selected
Other tests as by the district
outlined in the charter
Both
26
Public education is available to rural students
and provides specific provisions for the schools
that must exist in remote locations.
Charter School - Traditional Public School - Both
answer
27
Traditional Public SchoolCharter Schools are
available only where they exist
(Utah Charter School Handbook 2005 p2-8)
28

• What is a Charter School?
• Public School authorized by the legislature
• Funded with public school funds
• Freed from some regulations that are required
  of traditional public schools
• Held accountable for their academic progress
• They can be established by individuals or be
  converted from a traditional public school
• public-private hybrid (Vergari 16)

(Utah Charter School Handbook 2005 p2-2)
29

• History
• The first charter school legislation passed in
  Minnesota in 1991
• By 2003 there were over 2,500 charter schools
  in the nation
• As of September 2006 there are over 4,000
  charter schools nationwide (edreform.com)
• Currently there are 58 charter schools in Utah
  (schools.utah.gov)

30

• Philosophical/Typology
• Traditional
• high academic standards/behavior
• rigorous classes
• lots of homework
• back-to-basics approach
• teacher centered classes
• academic content
• Traditionalists

31

• Philosophical/Typology
• Progressive
• premium on individual development
• learning approached holistically/students
  emotional, spiritual, physical and intellectual
  needs
• student-centered, hands-on, project- based,
  cooperative learning
• teacher as facilitator
• Progressivism

32

• Philosophical/Typology
• Vocational
• equip students with practical, career-related
  skills
• participate in apprenticeships and on-the-job
  training
• designed to give work experience, job- specific
  skills and marketable credentials

33

• Philosophical/Typology
• General
• conversion schools
• virtually indistinguishable from traditional
  public schools
• no innovative curriculum

34

• Philosophical/Typology
• Alternative Delivery
• provide most instruction outside of traditional
  school buildings/study at home
• individual school plans
• must complete required state testing
• virtual charter school

(Carpenter p 3-4)
35
Local Context Make a list of the concerns,
questions or issues you have about charter schools
36
Local Context
Aaron and Rhoda Burch
Ann Wilson-homeschooler
video
Jana and Tyler Brady
37

• Current Issues
• CQ Researcher

38

• My Views
• good alternatives
• offers more choice
• customize education
• public needs education about charter schools

39

• Actions to take
• learn more about charter schools
• share what you know

40
Conclusion

• Through these three options of school choice Tax
  Credits, Vouchers, Charter Schools, parents are
  slowing gaining more options in school choice for
  their children.
• All three are a work in progress with their
  advantages and disadvantages.
• We all support school choice.