Our view: Study of voucher schools makes sense
By La Crosse Tribune editorial staff
Last Update: December 1, 2003
Gov. James Doyle has vetoed a package of bills that would have expanded Milwaukee school-choice voucher system.
One of the casualties of that round of vetoes, however, was a proposal to launch a 12-year study of how well vouchers schools are doing.
A study of that type would be much needed, because the private schools that benefit from the voucher program do not have to submit to the same accountability measures as public schools. If such schools receive public assistance in the form of students who rely on vouchers, then they should be accountable.
Admittedly, the bill the governor vetoed was flawed. It did not require the schools to submit to the testing required, but allowed them to opt out if they so chose.
Doyle said that’s the reason he vetoed the bill, because it would have been meaningless without the mandatory participation of all schools.
Someone should immediately introduce a new 12-year study bill — with mandatory participation. We need to know how well all schools are doing so that we can fi gure out what works and what does not.
Public schools have served the United States well for a long time. And they continue to serve well.
Unfortunately, our traditional public schools have not always worked as well in serving high populations of low-income students, many of whom come from dysfunctional or chaotic family situations.
That’s the condition that led to the rise of voucher schools in Milwaukee, now limited to 10 percent of the total student population. If we are serious about the dual goals of serving students and improving the public schools in Milwaukee, then we need that research.