re: Bill would let state pay parents up to $15,000 to send kids to private school

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requiring basic algebra and geometry and financial math is not "forcing college"

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basic algebra and geometry are fine. Alot of states require a third math where the only option in a lot of districts is basically algebra 2, which is not a needed course to be successful in life. And im saying that as a math teacher that loves teaching algebra 2.

the district im in (and getting ready to leave from) has a relatively good career route option. we still force kids to waste time on classes they dont need like algebra 2 for the sake of "well they need it to go to college." That's my issue. When I've taught algebra 2 I wasnt able to go as far as I felt like i needed to for my higher performing students because of how many students that had no business taking it were in there.

Horrible idea.

There’s not a day that goes by without using the quadratic equation

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Basic statistics should be taught in high school imo.

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I agree. Unfortunately we've sacrificed that unit in our algebra classes lately because we "have to get to quadratics"

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that’s interesting- I wonder if the homeschoolers would be able to get their hands on any of this money

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Per salmon, yes.

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Let's be honest, if we're making decisions on course work based on their necessity for being "successful" in life, there are a great many classes that don't need to be taught beyond grade school.

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I mean thats fair but theres also the idea of having a good well rounded education which im on board with. I guess the better way to phrase what im saying is I dont think algebra 2 (among other higher level classes that end up being a requirement) are needed for a well rounded education.

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I don't know exactly how similar the LA program would be, but who is going to possibly audit all of these transactions? There will be so much bullshite getting paid for with taxpayer money.

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Not to mention all the administration needed to be funded just to have the system. And the public schools will still be there and their costs are largely fixed, so the only thing this bill will do is massively increase the state budget so no doubt taxes to pay for it and decrease the quality of the private schools (and hell public schools too).

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I guess the better way to phrase what im saying is I dont think algebra 2 (among other higher level classes that end up being a requirement) are needed for a well rounded education.

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So college is entirely unnecessary for many. I actually agree with that

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I believe it starts out at 250% of the poverty level and over the years that raises to 400% and eventually no income thresholds, if I remember correctly.

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I’m still trying to understand but just to put some hard numbers to this.

Example Family of 5 (3 kids):
250% = $91,450

So the public school family making this amount or less gets $15k x 3 = $45k to send their 3 kids to private school.

And the private school family making say $150k and already making huge sacrifices to send their 3 kids to private school get $5k x 3 = $15k.

So when this bill passes and private schools raise tuition from $7k to $15k you all the sudden have a situation where the public school families can afford private school and the private school families get absolutely fricked.

Am I understanding this right?

Surely I am missing something. There’s no way it should be allowed to play out like this. But I cannot find any information on income thresholds when searching..

ETA: found this info

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he proposal reserves higher annual individual scholarship amounts for special education students ($15,099 per school year) and families below 250% of the federal poverty line ($7,550 a year). Individual students in households above 250% of the federal poverty line receive an estimated scholarship of $5,190 annually.

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So not really as terrible as I thought originally.

The State and its public school system have done this to themselves with extremely low quality output. Much blame can also be placed on the degradation of the traditional family unit. But, if you know history, this degradation also leeds back to State run programs.

Cost taxpayers several hundred million dollars a year? - Yeah, but No. Many families pay more than their "fair share" of taxes dedicated to the failing State run education system with zero family benefit. It's demoralizing to pay such taxes then she'll out 5 figures annually on private education.

Weaken public school systems? - Yes, they are so terrible that they will be rendered obsolete. But they are 90% terrible already. They are already a failure and are quickly getting worse. Charters are killing them already and rightfully so.

Reduce educational accountability? - No. Private schools are capitalism. Provide a good product or people will find it elsewhere.