What is School Choice: Opportunity for Rhode Island

Michael ChartierState Programs &

Government Relations Director

Leslie Davis Hiner, Esq.Vice President

of Programs & State Relations

What is School Choice?

Happy Family Successful

Graduate

Economic Freedom

Individual Libertywww.EdChoice.org

When Did the Idea of School Choice Begin?

It was 1955;

future Nobel Prize-winning economist

Milton Friedman kick-started modern

education reform with the article,

"The Role of Governmentin Education."

www.EdChoice.org

Milton Friedman’s Vision

"Government," wrote Friedman, "preferably

local governmental units, would give each

child, through his parents, a specified sum

to be used solely in paying for his general

education; the parents would be free to

spend this sum at a school of their own

choice, provided it met certain minimum

standards laid down by the appropriate

governmental unit."www.EdChoice.org

Foundational Ideas SupportingSchool Choice

1. That a free market society is hindered by a bureaucratically controlled educational system where government funds and operates schools.

2. That competition in the education marketplace will spark innovation and invigorate achievement in schools.

3. That all parents should have the freedom to choose the school that is right for their children.

www.EdChoice.org

Many School Choice Opportunities

So many choices . . .

Universal Voucher

Education Savings Account

Special Needs

Voucher

Limited Access

VoucherTax

Credit Scholar-

ship

Online Learnin

g

Charter Schools

www.EdChoice.org

2011-12 Year of Growth For School Choice

2011-12 School Choice Scorecard

Number of States Introducing Choice

42

Total Number of Bills Introduced 112

Number of States Enacting Choice 15

Total Number of Bills Enacted 27

Number of New Choice Programs 13

Number of Expanded Programs 14

A Rising Tide

www.EdChoice.org

Now, Private School Choice in 44% of the States

StateFailing School

Voucher

Town Tuitioning Voucher

Special Needs

Voucher

Geographic, means-tested

voucher

District Voucher

Statewide Means-tested

voucher

Education Savings

Accounts

Tax Credit Scholarship

Individual Tax Credits

or DeductionsTotal

AZ             1 3   4CO *         1*       1DC       1         1FL     1       1   2GA     1       1   2IL               1 1IN           1 1 1 3IA             1 1 2LA  1   1      1 1 4ME   1             1MN               1 1MS 1 1NC               1 1NH 1 1OK     1       1   2OH 1   2 1         4PA             2   2RI             1   1UT     1           1VA 1 1VT   1             1WI       2         2

222 2 8 4 1 1 1

14 6

39Tax Credit Scholarships: 14

Personal: 6

Total Voucher Programs and ESAs: 19Total Tax Credit Programs: 20

www.EdChoice.org

How to Know the Possibilities: Do Your Homework

Vouchers; Embrace the flexibility Milton Friedman taught universal vouchers;

structure an education funding formula based on Milton’s vision

Education Savings Accounts the new voucher frontier; design to fit needs in your community

Vouchers for children with special needs the new essential program

Limited access vouchers should be statewide; limits on parental income, prior school, low performing schools common yet not ideal

www.EdChoice.org

Special Needs Voucher Programs Are Growing Fast

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

1 1 1 1

2 2

3

45 5 5

89

10

Number of Special Needs Choice Programs

www.EdChoice.org

Vouchers

How it works:• Allow parents to use all or part of the

government funding set aside for their children’s education to send their children to the public or private school of their choice

• Most programs allow parents to send their children to religious or non-religious schools

• Private schools must meet standards of safety, fiscal soundness, and non-discrimination

www.EdChoice.org

Education Savings Accounts

How it works:• Education funding allocated for a child is

deposited into a secure account.• Parent decides if/when to use funds for

pre-Kindergarten, K-12 private school, tutoring, extra classes, other educational needs.

• Funds remaining in account when child completes high school may be used for college.

www.EdChoice.org

How to Know the Possibilities: Do Your Homework

Tax Credit Scholarships, Online Learning Privately-funded scholarship programs transition

well to tax credit scholarship programs Tax credit programs should be statewide; limits

on parental income, prior school, low performing schools common yet not ideal

Conflicts between tax credit programs and state efforts to eliminate income tax

Online learning growing in popularity; hybrid programs easy to understand and promote

Rural areas particularly well-suited for online learning

www.EdChoice.org

Tax Credit Scholarships

How it works:• Individuals or groups establish a 501(c)(3)

scholarship granting organization (SGO)• Corporations and/or individuals donate to

the SGO, receiving a tax credit for their donation

• The SGO disburses scholarships to children to attend the school of their choice using the donated money

www.EdChoice.org

How to Know the Possibilities: Do Your Homework

Charter schools need free market focus Charters are public schools; like most government

schools, face hazard of creeping bureaucracy Promote and preserve independent nature of

charter school original design Independent, private authorizers essential to

long-term success of charter school growth and achievement

Charter schools and vouchers a perfect match; establish a partnership between school choice and charter school supporters

www.EdChoice.org

Charter Schools, Home Schools, and Online Learning

EdWeek Quality Counts 2012 report graded Rhode Island C+ for education policy and performance

Rhode Island charter school law graded ‘D’, one of the worst charter school laws in the country, by the Center for Education Reform

Rhode Island homeschool laws among most restrictive in the nation

Rhode Island positioned well for online learning, high percentage of children with internet access

www.EdChoice.org

Advancing A School Choice Agenda

The way forward . . .

Strategy #1Assess the Opportunity; Understand the Playing FieldStrategy #2Facilitate Success; Lead from the CenterStrategy #3Inspire Success; Motivate Others

www.EdChoice.org

School Choice Strategy #1Assess the Opportunity

The Playing Field . . .

Market:

children,

families,

schoolsGovernme

nt: legislative, executive,

judicial

Coalition:

business,

religion,

private

schools

www.EdChoice.org

How to Assess the Opportunity: Understand the Playing Field

Know your market challenges Who are your customers? Know the social,

economic, academic, cultural status of children & families

What do children need for academic success in your state/district?

How would school choice meet this need? Where is the greatest need? Who is providing quality education today? How much capacity currently exists in the

private school market? How can this expand to meet demand?

www.EdChoice.org

How to Assess the Opportunity: Understand the Playing Field

Know your government challenges Legislative: Which legislators are champions for

school choice? What is their track record on school choice? Who are the unlikely champions? Who will be roadblocks to reform?

Executive: Who will ask your governor to support school choice? Can your governor be neutralized? Which education leaders will support school choice?

Judicial: Who will answer legal arguments? Are there pending cases in state court regarding state dollars to private entities?

www.EdChoice.org

How to Assess the Opportunity: Understand the Playing Field

Know your coalition challenges Is there an existing school choice coalition? If so,

is it effective? Is it diverse? Are members dedicated?

Who can lead one effective coalition that can grow and continue to work during implementation of a school choice program?

Does the business community support school choice?

Do religious organizations support school choice? Is your nonpublic schools organization supportive? Will charter schools and homeschoolers rally to

your support? Do you adequately support parental outreach?

www.EdChoice.org

School Choice Strategy #2Facilitate Success

Assemble the Leaders . . .

Common Tabl

e

Government

Officials

School Choice Coaliti

on

National

Groups

www.EdChoice.org

How to Facilitate SuccessLead from the Center

Lead with knowledge & resources Be credible; educate. Use knowledge of your

community, coalition, specific types of school choice to position yourself as the primary resource

Teach a common language for school choice; united advocates must speak in one voice

Provide a safe harbor for advocates from any party to attend coalition meetings and share ideas

School choice advocates may strongly disagree on other issues; be the center point of agreement on school choice as a stand alone issue

www.EdChoice.org

Programs Team Services

Educational Meetings1. Events, and Briefings

2. Regional Summits

3. Fact-finding Trips

4. Webinars

Legislative & Administrative Advice and Training

Program Design

EDUCATION & GRANT-MAKING

Coalition-Building Activities

Speakers Bureau

Public Speaking

Expert Testimony

Lobbying

Grant-making to 501(c)(3) nonprofits

www.EdChoice.org

Programs Team Services

Research Support

Graphic Design

Marketing and Advertising

Media Training and Message Development

Media Relations and Appearances

RESEARCH & MARKETING

Research and Analysis1. National Research

2. State Research

3. Fiscal

4. Programs

5. Public Schools Sector

Surveys1. Polling

2. Private Schools Sector

How to Get School Choice DoneInspire Success; Lead

“If your actions inspire

others to dream

more, learn more, do more

and become more, you are a

leader.” ~ John

Quincy Adams