Nowhere To Hyde — Blowing a Hole In Idaho School Choice Myths. By Bryan Hyde (10/18/24, video 13:29 includes transcript)
With school choice high on the list of Idaho legislative priorities, a few myths need to be exploded. Hyde discusses many of them, including:
Critics says that universal voucher programs have become budget busters for states. In fact, it's about taxpayer money being sent in directions that proponents of the public education system really don't want.
How we got the current public school system (discusses a recent Gem State Chronicle article by Brian Almon: gemstatechronicle.com/2…)
The Blaine Amendment (failed at the federal level but adopted by many states) opposed funneling public money to parochial schools.
We're taxed in order to pay for the public schools. However, public schools don’t work well for all types of learners and the worldview of many parents.
Despite escalating and vast amounts of money being poured into Idaho’s public schools, student scores in reading and math comprehension haven’t changed much in more than 20 years.
Idaho’s Launch program funnels public funds to private religious colleges and universities. So why shouldn't this same principle apply to K through 12?
The benefits of school choice extend to all communities throughout Idaho, not just urban areas.
The term “voucher” to describe refundable tax credits or education savings accounts is an inflammatory label designed to scare people.
Competition improves all schools, including public schools. With competition, all schools are incentivized to improve their offerings and outcomes, raising the overall quality of education and benefiting all students regardless of the type of school they attend.
The state of Idaho is mandated to provide education to every school age child living in Idaho. Therefore, it behooves Idaho to get more bang for the taxpayer buck:
Expanding school choice can help to reduce the overall cost of education.
School choice programs regularly operate at a lower cost per pupil than public schools, so an education savings account with rollover also ensures that the cost of tuition doesn't artificially increase.
In closing, Hyde says:
Let's let some competition into the equation and see if the education situation improves on all fronts. And for those who just simply can't stomach that idea, the question I would have is: ”Why is there something inherently sacred about their system that it cannot be subject to any kind of competition? Or is it just that they want to maintain a monopoly on the control that they have right now — particularly teachers unions?
Related:
Umbrellas, Community Schools, United Way & School Board Meetings:
