School
Voucher Initiative Battle in California
From a news story by
CNN San Francisco Reporter Greg Lefevre
November 30, 2000
A TV ad touting the school voucher initiative in California says, "It's
the freedom to choose a good safe school."
California's Proposition 38 would give any public school parent four
thousand dollars per year to send their children anywhere. And for many,
that is anywhere BUT a public school.
Chris Bertelli of the Prop 38 Yes Campaign says, "Our public education
system is now 49th in the nation in reading and math scores. One-third
of high school students will drop out. That is not success."
Unlike other voucher programs that favor low-income families, this one
applies to everyone. It's opposed by the state's powerful teachers’
unions who see it [vouchers] as a drain on an already ailing system.
Amy Dean of the AFL-CIO says 38 is, "...nothing but a very self-interested
short-sighted grab for public resources."
Backers claim wide support from urban families, jilted by the public
system.
Doris Limbrick is the Principal of Operation Kickoff Christian Academy,
"It's important for them to be afforded the same education as any
other child."
Operation Kickoff Christian Academy sits in the heart of Oakland's troubled
school system. Doris Limbrick says that Prop 38 would, "be ideal
for our program 'cause the children will be able to come. Some of the
single parents, it's a struggle to pay, pay tuition."
Chief backer is high tech entrepreneur, Tim Draper, who says bad schools,
like bad businesses should not be rewarded for failure. Tim Draper of
the Prop 38 Yes campaign says of the initiative, "It gives parents
a choice, and that is a choice of schools that must test and must account
for everything that they do."
Of the estimated eight thousand dollars the state now gives each school
per student, four thousand would go to the parent to send the child
anywhere. The school keeps the remaining four thousand without the expense
of educating the child.
The PTA doesn't buy it. Carol Kocivar is on the Board of Managers of
the California State PTA and she says, "And we don't believe vouchers
and money that take away from the opportunity to improve public schools
is a good investment in our kids."
The biggest private educator, the Catholic Church, is officially neutral,
though some parishes individually urge passage. Backers admit that Prop.38
offers radical change. Apparently, [it’s] too radical, [as] the
latest polls suggest the initiative will fail.
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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