It looks like the UT legislature is trying a new approach to school vouchers. Remember back in 2007 HB 148 passed the legislature but was then taken to a ballot referendum which was rejected fairly soundly by voters see Ballotopedia here.
This new bill takes a carrot and stick approach, by offering an 8,400 dollar raise to teachers if the bill is passed which will also create an 8,000 dollar scholarship which parents could use for private or home schooling. If the bill is not passed, the teacher raise will be half that amount.
I will need to do more reading of this bill to see where the "scholarship" money comes from and some of the criteria for schools that get the money. For now, I am left to consider the bill on principles.
1.) Everyone has school choice. You can choose to keep your kids home, and you can choose to spend between 10k and 12.5k on private school tuition.
2.) Article XIII of the constitution of the state of Utah requires that all tax on intangible property and all income tax dollars should be spent public schools, and 5% of the proceeds from the sales of US public land in the state. In Article X, Utah's public schools are defined as having to be free of cost and nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.
We're American. We love having choices and freedom. I get it. The existence of public schools that are funded in a constitutional manner doesn't remove that choice. If I am fearful that ideas which I oppose are being taught in the free public school offering, I can decide to educate my kids at home or budget my money so that I can send my kids to a school that shares my ideals. That is the choice.
I think we should be leary of diluting the money set aside for public schools for many reasons.
First, the state constitution has set out the parameters of school funding and how public schools qualify for that funding. Funnelling tax and public money to individuals and private organizations with less oversight is not ideal.
Second, we have ceased to have the ability to agree on objective truth as a society.
From politics to sexuality and race to the environment and medical science - the perception of objective truth is nonexistent. Half the country believe's Joe Biden is a criminal in league with China, there can be no toleration of transgenderism or historical narratives that highlight racism in American history, we should continue burning fossil fuels with reckless abandon, and that vaccines are a conspiracy to reduce the surplus population. While the other half believes Donald Trump is a criminal, we should have broad support of all non-traditional sexual preferences and identities and white people should pay reparations for the slavery perpetrated by their ancestors, all fossil fuel options need to be stopped now regardless of the cost and you should take every vaccine offered without question.
I am leery of public funds being used to fund home and private schools that are indoctrinating children in any manner.
