Vouchers or other options

[Guest guest]

I personally think what we need to do is sit down, put our heads together,

and come up with a solution that will work FOR TEXAS. Florida and Ohio may

have voucher systems, and they may or may not work for THOSE states given

their unique characteristics, economies, etc. Remember, in Ohio they may be

getting a voucher that is $20k or $25k a year…but they also have a much

higher cost of living there than in Texas. I bet Ohio also spends a bit more

per pupil in public schools than we do here in Texas, so comparing the Ohio

legislation to what we might end up with here in Texas is somewhat like

comparing apples and oranges. $20k in Ohio might translate here to $8k per

student….who knows? Our typical public school expenditure in Texas per pupil

is SO LOW, I can’t imagine even with a voucher that it will be that much,

thus leaving those families who might use them with a great deal of $$ they

have to put out personally. (which then has legislators saying…”we gave you

what you asked for, NOW what is wrong? when no one can afford to use the

vouchers).

It is MHO that we need to look at what we do and don’t have in Texas

already, what is and isn’t working, and devise a plan around that which is

specific to Texas.

What I am thinking about goes back not to vouchers, but another school

choice issue that is already available in Texas but needs major

overhaul….charter schools. We have those in place already. They already get

SOME public funding and provide school choice…what we need now is to get TEA

and the legislature to relax or rewrite the rules….so that we can devise

some charters that provide that “school within a school” concept that could

let us have the cream of the crop teachers and programs within a charter

school, with enough public funding to actually pay for it, and also have

either a “base” of typical kids for needed inclusion time. Plus charters

have BOD’s which are typically run by the PARENTS.

I am hoping with the next legislative session (okay, PRAYING) that the TAKS

test is going to “go away”….Sen. Shapiro is already talking about having end

of course tests like in the distant past, which would solve one of the

negatives about charter schools for kids with autism….the standardized

testing requirements. I think if we could work on the legislators to rewrite

some of the charter school legislation we might get something that has the

possibility of working for almost everyone WITHOUT taking $$ out of the

public school system.

Just a thought…and yet another option.

nna

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2:50 PM

[Guest guest]

nna,

Everything you said makes total sense to me. I also think that we need to

look at how the public schools are funded. How is the money being diveed up?

In the rural area I live in, there are 4 schools that we are on the corner

of each district. The district with the most students of these 4, has around

300 enrolled. Our school is just over 200. One of them has so few students,

they don't have a high school. Yet each of these 4 schools has full

administrations, including paying superintendents hefty incomes. Ours makes

well over $85K. That is RIDICULOUS, IMO. Why can't we take rural areas like

this and combine the administrations? Instead of paying more that $200

000/year for 4 superintendents, you could pay $50K/year for one person to

run 4 districts like this, which would be less than 1000 students, and use

the money saved to pay for qualified teachers! This is common sense to me!

Anne

-- Vouchers or other options

I personally think what we need to do is sit down, put our heads together,

and come up with a solution that will work FOR TEXAS. Florida and Ohio may

have voucher systems, and they may or may not work for THOSE states given

their unique characteristics, economies, etc. Remember, in Ohio they may be

getting a voucher that is $20k or $25k a year…but they also have a much

higher cost of living there than in Texas. I bet Ohio also spends a bit more

per pupil in public schools than we do here in Texas, so comparing the Ohio

legislation to what we might end up with here in Texas is somewhat like

comparing apples and oranges. $20k in Ohio might translate here to $8k per

student….who knows? Our typical public school expenditure in Texas per pupil

is SO LOW, I can’t imagine even with a voucher that it will be that much,

thus leaving those families who might use them with a great deal of $$ they

have to put out personally. (which then has legislators saying…”we gave you

what you asked for, NOW what is wrong? when no one can afford to use the

vouchers).

It is MHO that we need to look at what we do and don’t have in Texas

already, what is and isn’t working, and devise a plan around that which is

specific to Texas.

What I am thinking about goes back not to vouchers, but another school

choice issue that is already available in Texas but needs major

overhaul….charter schools. We have those in place already. They already get

SOME public funding and provide school choice…what we need now is to get TEA

and the legislature to relax or rewrite the rules….so that we can devise

some charters that provide that “school within a school” concept that could

let us have the cream of the crop teachers and programs within a charter

school, with enough public funding to actually pay for it, and also have

either a “base” of typical kids for needed inclusion time. Plus charters

have BOD’s which are typically run by the PARENTS.

I am hoping with the next legislative session (okay, PRAYING) that the TAKS

test is going to “go away”….Sen. Shapiro is already talking about having end

of course tests like in the distant past, which would solve one of the

negatives about charter schools for kids with autism….the standardized

testing requirements. I think if we could work on the legislators to rewrite

some of the charter school legislation we might get something that has the

possibility of working for almost everyone WITHOUT taking $$ out of the

public school system.

Just a thought…and yet another option.

nna

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2:50 PM

[Guest guest]

Hi nna,

I agree with what you said, that certainly would be an inclusive

solution to help everyone. I like the idea of sitting down and

putting our heads together. Not taking $$ out of public schools

sounds good as well.

Nagla

>

> I personally think what we need to do is sit down, put our heads

together,

> and come up with a solution that will work FOR TEXAS. Florida and

Ohio may

> have voucher systems, and they may or may not work for THOSE states

given

> their unique characteristics, economies, etc. Remember, in Ohio

they may be

> getting a voucher that is $20k or $25k a year…but they also have a

much

> higher cost of living there than in Texas. I bet Ohio also spends a

bit more

> per pupil in public schools than we do here in Texas, so comparing

the Ohio

> legislation to what we might end up with here in Texas is somewhat

like

> comparing apples and oranges. $20k in Ohio might translate here to

$8k per

> student….who knows? Our typical public school expenditure in Texas

per pupil

> is SO LOW, I can't imagine even with a voucher that it will be that

much,

> thus leaving those families who might use them with a great deal of

$$ they

> have to put out personally. (which then has legislators saying… " we

gave you

> what you asked for, NOW what is wrong? when no one can afford to

use the

> vouchers).

>

> It is MHO that we need to look at what we do and don't have in Texas

> already, what is and isn't working, and devise a plan around that

which is

> specific to Texas.

>

> What I am thinking about goes back not to vouchers, but another

school

> choice issue that is already available in Texas but needs major

> overhaul….charter schools. We have those in place already. They

already get

> SOME public funding and provide school choice…what we need now is

to get TEA

> and the legislature to relax or rewrite the rules….so that we can

devise

> some charters that provide that " school within a school " concept

that could

> let us have the cream of the crop teachers and programs within a

charter

> school, with enough public funding to actually pay for it, and also

have

> either a " base " of typical kids for needed inclusion time. Plus

charters

> have BOD's which are typically run by the PARENTS.

>

> I am hoping with the next legislative session (okay, PRAYING) that

the TAKS

> test is going to " go away " ….Sen. Shapiro is already talking about

having end

> of course tests like in the distant past, which would solve one of

the

> negatives about charter schools for kids with autism….the

standardized

> testing requirements. I think if we could work on the legislators

to rewrite

> some of the charter school legislation we might get something that

has the

> possibility of working for almost everyone WITHOUT taking $$ out of

the

> public school system.

>

> Just a thought…and yet another option.

>

>

> nna

>

> --

> No virus found in this outgoing message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.2/613 - Release Date:

1/1/2007

> 2:50 PM

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

nna, this makes so much sense. My fear with vouchers would be that my

school would say " take your money and go " , but the money wouldn't be enough to

do anything with; private schools are so expensive. I couldn't afford to use a

voucher....

My family is from New Orleans, and charter schools are taking over there. The

parents have much more power and say, and the improvements are already evident

(although they had nowhere to go but up....!). Still, parent power is appealing

to me!

nna Bond wrote:

I personally think what we need to do is sit down, put our heads

together,

and come up with a solution that will work FOR TEXAS. Florida and Ohio may

have voucher systems, and they may or may not work for THOSE states given

their unique characteristics, economies, etc. Remember, in Ohio they may be

getting a voucher that is $20k or $25k a year…but they also have a much

higher cost of living there than in Texas. I bet Ohio also spends a bit more

per pupil in public schools than we do here in Texas, so comparing the Ohio

legislation to what we might end up with here in Texas is somewhat like

comparing apples and oranges. $20k in Ohio might translate here to $8k per

student….who knows? Our typical public school expenditure in Texas per pupil

is SO LOW, I can’t imagine even with a voucher that it will be that much,

thus leaving those families who might use them with a great deal of $$ they

have to put out personally. (which then has legislators saying…”we gave you

what you asked for, NOW what is wrong? when no one can afford to use the

vouchers).

It is MHO that we need to look at what we do and don’t have in Texas

already, what is and isn’t working, and devise a plan around that which is

specific to Texas.

What I am thinking about goes back not to vouchers, but another school

choice issue that is already available in Texas but needs major

overhaul….charter schools. We have those in place already. They already get

SOME public funding and provide school choice…what we need now is to get TEA

and the legislature to relax or rewrite the rules….so that we can devise

some charters that provide that “school within a school” concept that could

let us have the cream of the crop teachers and programs within a charter

school, with enough public funding to actually pay for it, and also have

either a “base” of typical kids for needed inclusion time. Plus charters

have BOD’s which are typically run by the PARENTS.

I am hoping with the next legislative session (okay, PRAYING) that the TAKS

test is going to “go away”….Sen. Shapiro is already talking about having end

of course tests like in the distant past, which would solve one of the

negatives about charter schools for kids with autism….the standardized

testing requirements. I think if we could work on the legislators to rewrite

some of the charter school legislation we might get something that has the

possibility of working for almost everyone WITHOUT taking $$ out of the

public school system.

Just a thought…and yet another option.

nna

--

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Checked by AVG Free Edition.

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2:50 PM

[Guest guest]

nna, I like your idea. Maybe some of us could sit down the night

before the State Conference Planning Meeting?

Tonya

Vouchers or other options

Importance: High

I personally think what we need to do is sit down, put our heads

together,

and come up with a solution that will work FOR TEXAS. Florida and Ohio

may

have voucher systems, and they may or may not work for THOSE states

given

their unique characteristics, economies, etc. Remember, in Ohio they may

be

getting a voucher that is $20k or $25k a year.but they also have a much

higher cost of living there than in Texas. I bet Ohio also spends a bit

more

per pupil in public schools than we do here in Texas, so comparing the

Ohio

legislation to what we might end up with here in Texas is somewhat like

comparing apples and oranges. $20k in Ohio might translate here to $8k

per

student..who knows? Our typical public school expenditure in Texas per

pupil

is SO LOW, I can't imagine even with a voucher that it will be that

much,

thus leaving those families who might use them with a great deal of $$

they

have to put out personally. (which then has legislators saying. " we gave

you

what you asked for, NOW what is wrong? when no one can afford to use the

vouchers).

It is MHO that we need to look at what we do and don't have in Texas

already, what is and isn't working, and devise a plan around that which

is

specific to Texas.

What I am thinking about goes back not to vouchers, but another school

choice issue that is already available in Texas but needs major

overhaul..charter schools. We have those in place already. They already

get

SOME public funding and provide school choice.what we need now is to get

TEA

and the legislature to relax or rewrite the rules..so that we can devise

some charters that provide that " school within a school " concept that

could

let us have the cream of the crop teachers and programs within a charter

school, with enough public funding to actually pay for it, and also have

either a " base " of typical kids for needed inclusion time. Plus charters

have BOD's which are typically run by the PARENTS.

I am hoping with the next legislative session (okay, PRAYING) that the

TAKS

test is going to " go away " ..Sen. Shapiro is already talking about having

end

of course tests like in the distant past, which would solve one of the

negatives about charter schools for kids with autism..the standardized

testing requirements. I think if we could work on the legislators to

rewrite

some of the charter school legislation we might get something that has

the

possibility of working for almost everyone WITHOUT taking $$ out of the

public school system.

Just a thought.and yet another option.

nna

--

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Checked by AVG Free Edition.

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2:50 PM

[Guest guest]

The cost of living in Ohio is not significantly different from Texas if you look

at the government statistics and compare apples to apples. One thing that is

being overlooked is the fact that the Texas education and health systems are

burdened by the children of undocumented workers who by and large do not

contribute to the tax base for the hospital districts and education districts.

The Texas public education system is more likely to be harmed from providing

free social services to those failing to contribute property taxes than it will

from any perceived downside to providing vouchers/scholarships to the relatively

small number of property tax paying parents of special needs autistic students.

The true culprits who are draining money out of the Texas public education

system are not voucher/scholarship proponents, but those who are not

contributing for the services used. The positive thing about the

voucher/scholarship system is that you actually get to choose whether

you accept. The school district can’t force a parent to send a child to

private school if the parent does not think that it is in their child’s best

interest or if it is against one's political or philosophical beliefs. I have

spoken to some people (not special needs parents) who are actually against

special needs scholarships for autism solely because they see it as part of a

right wing Republican agenda and are fearful that it will start us down " the

slippery slope " to state-funded private educaton and all types of unimaginable

bad things. They can't seem to put aside their political feelings to help what

is a comparatively small percentage of special needs autistic children as

relates to the total populaton of public school students. Vouchers are merely

an option available to those who want options. I imagine that if a child is in

a good public school program or if the value of the voucher won’t give you

better services in the private sector, most parents would

elect to have their child stay in a good public school program.

Unfortunately, not all Texas school districts view special education for

autism with the same enthusiasm as others. Some districts actually try to

provide quality services and others merely pay lip service to providing services

while tightly holding the purse strings for what they consider more worthy

endeavors. Consequently, having a choice makes a great deal of sense when one

looks at the overall state of special education in Texas. I am truly happy for

those fortunate enough to find themselves in a situation to have their children

in great public school programs and where ARDs are actually about making

progress for the child. Our last ARD was more of a formality of reaching the

outcome predetermined by the special education director rather than the

participants. School districts train their special education administrators on

how to fight to maintain the status quo and keep costs down. This includes

seminars put on by the district’s law firms on how the district

can win the ARD process and go as far as intimidating special education staff

to comply with administration wishes regardless of their own views. You are free

to express you views as long as you are willing to accept transfer to one of the

worst schools in the district. It is certainly not a level playing field in our

district. That is why I would like my child and other children to have the

chance to reach greater potential than what we will ever see through services

provided in our district.

I agree that we should vigorously advocate reforms to the public education

system, advocate charter schools, and many other beneficial changes, but these

are long term goals that do not address immediate needs and that can certainly

co-exist with a voucher program.

Mike

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