Voucher blitz coming

Expect to hear more soon about how public schools aren't up to snuff and how vouchers are the solution. The Alliance for School Choice will launch a national campaign tomorrow aimed at recruiting 10,000 new supporters by January, in time for many state legislative sessions, including here in Florida.

A press release says the "School Choice Works" campaign will include a barrage of radio and online advertising, and will "shine an unprecedented spotlight on the failures of many public schools in America." Alliance spokesman Andrew Campanella tells the Gradebook that Florida is among the targeted states. "We want to keep the momentum there going," he wrote in an e-mail.

Voucher supporters have had a lot to cheer about in Florida in the past year, including the expansion of corporate tax-credit vouchers, the shifting alliances among Democratic lawmakers and some high-profile converts.

Ron Matus, state education reporter

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Comments

I hope that the voucher proponents get really militant in Florida because they will get what they deserve. Someone will ask the Court if there is really anything different between the opportunity scholarship vouchers and the CIT and/or McKay Vouchers. The answer on the key question of the original Court's ruling (the Legisalture creating two systems of education instead of the one public system they are supposed to support) is the same. Goodbye. With the vast majority of the Court now being Bush and Crist appointees, it will be a real kick in the pants for those who have ignored the Constitution for so long and gotten away with it.

Will this mean I have to read Pat Levesque's (Is her middle name spin?)
bologna ad nauseum? Will she include her credential for being strongly associated with education as having a dgree in finance and an MBA? Jeb couldn't have found anyone with a more suitable background? OR was his aim to get tax monet funneled out of the public schools???????
BTW, Ron, wouldn't voucher proponents feel quite shamed that they got called on the carpet for their tricky language in their voucher bills?
I would have, but then I haven't seen much shame in voucher proponents. Do they think their intended end would justify their deceptive means?

Also, Ron . . . the expansion to the CIT voucher program was to the amount for each voucher not the number of children served! The private schools got more money from the state per voucher at the same time that the public schools were getting a 16.5% (after the 4% withholding) of their GR from the previous year. Sickening! And, Gaetz claimed (with the absolute approval of most of the staff propaganda) that it somehow saved the state money. They paid more per kid for the same number of kids but somehow saved money. I need to check with Orwell to figure out how the lie becomes truth. No wait, my tv is talking to me.

[terminator]

even if most voucher schools are a joke with uncredentialed teachers and are unregulated by the state, there are lot's of dimwits out there who think they're better than the neighboring public school.
remember, they don't call us FloriDUH for nothing.
that's ok, following graduation when Jr. can't get into a four year university, they'll ask increduously w*T*F?
like the old saying goes: "you get what you pay for".

[MenckenJr]

And good riddance to them if they do get submarined.

Seconding the above post. Vouchers suffered major defeats again ad the
Mac Kay received its fair share of scrutiny.

Ron, have they paid for you, too?

Voucher advocates have had a horrible year in Florida! There two amendments were wiped off the ballot by a unanimous Supreme Court. The ruling chided the TBRC for "hiding the ball" with the proposals. Why didn't they just say what they wanted? Because they knew it wouldn't pass, they tried to sneak two amendments past the citizens.

This was the worst year for vouchers in Florida since the Bush v. Holmes ruling. If they have another two years like this one, there won't be any state vouchers anymore!