So, what would be the effect financially?
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By Amy K. Stewart
Standard-Examiner staff
M
oney is at the heart of the state's voucher debate.
In a nutshell, the proposed voucher program would allow $500 to $3,000 per child, depending on family size and income, to be used for private schools.
Funding for the program would not come out of the education fund, but rather from the state's general fund, which is used for roads, law enforcement, social services and other expenses.
Under current law, if a student transfers from a public school to a private school, the school district would lose its funding for that student.
With the proposed voucher program, when a public education student leaves the classroom for private school, the education funding would stay -- at least for five years.
There will be that much more education funding to spread to students left behind as class sizes decrease, say school voucher proponents.
However, voucher opponents point out that if a handful of kids leaves the school, the school must still face costs of running the building. The loss of a few students also won't mean saving money by eliminating a teacher.
It is estimated the voucher program would cost the state $5.5 million during the program's first year and increase gradually to $71 million for its 13th year, after all students in private schools are eligible for scholarships, according to the impartial Utah Voter Information pamphlet.
Based on predictions, the legislative fiscal analyst estimates school districts statewide will save $2.4 million to $11.5 million during the voucher program's first year and then $11 million to $28 million for the program's 13th year.
Between the two voucher camps, there are differences in figuring out private school tuition.
Voucher proponents use the state median figure, which excludes more expensive private schools, such as The Waterford School in Sandy, that can skew the data. They end up with a figure of around $4,000 annual tuition.
Voucher opponents use the state average, taking every private school into the equation, and come up with approximately $8,000 annual tuition.
Voucher opponents add there are extra costs, such as textbooks and uniforms. Voucher proponents point to the fact that private school students can receive further scholarships.
Yea or nay?
There are flaws, said Rick Palmer, executive director of the Ogden and Weber education associations.
"If that kindergarten student never goes to public school, he or she is never counted," he said. "How does that save public schools money?"
Voucher proponents say Utah will spend $7,500 per student in fiscal 2008. If a student used a $3,000 voucher to switch to private school, the state would be spending only $3,000 instead of $7,500 on that student's education.
Further, voucher proponents point to Utah's predicted student growth as one more reason to support a voucher program that would lessen the burden on the state's public schools.
The state estimates 155,000 more students during the next decade.
"We are diverting growth. That is what this is all about," said Royce Van Tassell, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association (pro-voucher).
Once the program is implemented, voucher amounts would be increased in future years by the same percentage as increases made by the Legislature to public school per-student funding.
The amount of a voucher can't exceed private school tuition, according to an impartial analysis in the Utah Voter Information pamphlet.
Private costs
In Ogden, students at St. Joseph Catholic High School pay $6,200 tuition, a $400 annual registration fee and up to $300 in school fees, depending on classes and labs.
For students at St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School, which houses kindergarten through eighth grade, tuition is $3,950, with a $150 annual registration fee. Uniforms could cost around $300 annually.
Marianne Bischoff, St. Joseph Schools director of advancement, said 50 percent of St. Joseph students receive financial aid. Myriad scholarships are available.
"Our policy is, no family is turned away based on inability to pay tuition," Bischoff said.
"We find a way."
At Layton Christian Academy, tuition is $4,340, plus $245 in curriculum fees, for grades nine to 12; $4,165, plus $225 in fees, for middle school; and $3,900, plus $195 in fees, for elementary school.
Registration is $110 annually. Uniforms are khakis and polo shirts that are purchased by students' families. Cost would depend on the store.
The school offers scholarships.
Electioneering
Organizations supporting and opposing the voucher proposal are financially supported in different ways.
Parents for Choice in Education (pro-voucher) has funding coming from donors and philanthropists in Utah and around the nation.
Wal-Mart isn't directly supporting Parents for Choice in Education. A nonprofit organization called All Children Matter donated $240,000 to Parents for Choice in 2006 -- but that was before the voucher campaign began.
No money is reported coming from All Children Matter to Parents for Choice in Education in 2007.
The Waltons, Wal-Mart's founding family, are the trustees of All Children Matter, according to Parents for Choice officials and data from the Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office.
Officials with Parents for Public Schools (anti-voucher) say they are getting their funds from the National Education Association, whose funding comes from small donations from educators nationwide.
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