School
Voucher Initiative Battle in California
Abridged Story
From a news story by
CNN San Francisco Reporter Greg Lefevre
November 30, 2000
Voters will decide soon on a new initiative in California. Proposition
38 offers parents of public school children the freedom to choose where
their children go to school. If it passes, each child will receive a
voucher of $4,000 to attend any school. Vouchers will be given to all
students regardless of family income.
Low reading and math scores have ranked California 49th in the country.
Also, one-third of high school students don’t finish school. Many
parents worry about school safety. Other parents feel the public school
system has failed their children.
Teachers’ unions are against Proposition 38. They feel that the
initiative takes badly needed money away from public schools. Public
schools receive $8,000 per student each year. If Proposition 38 passes,
schools will still receive $4,000 per child even though the children
go elsewhere. The California PTA does not support the voucher plan.
Tim Draper is a businessman and chief backer of the initiative. He argues
that schools should not be rewarded for failure. Draper thinks parents
have the right to choose the best schools for their children.
Officially the Catholic Church in California hasn’t taken sides.
Although it has the most private schools, it has tried to be neutral.
There are local Catholic Churches who support the measure.
Proposition 38 is thought to be a radical idea. According to the latest
polls, it won’t pass.
NOTE: On Election
Day, Tuesday November 7, 2000, California's Proposition 38 was defeated
by voters by more than two to one. The vote count was 6,644,231 NO
(71%) to 2,760,039 YES (29%).
Additional Notes:
The official name of this
measure is "The National Average School Funding Guarantee and Parental
Right to Choose Quality Education Amendment." If Proposition 38
passes, it will begin in phases. Four years after passage, all students
from grades K-12 will be eligible. Vouchers can be used at church and
private schools.
Supporters of the Draper Voucher (#38) claim passage of the measure
will not raise taxes. Those opposed to the vouchers say the cost will
be three billion and that there would be no accountability.
Most of the major newspapers in California have come out against the
initiative including the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Orange County Register and the Washington Post have written favorably
about Proposition 38.
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