Jumping on a chance at choice
The other day we noted some of the positive changes taking place in the education system in New Orleans. In the September issue of Education Reform News, Jim Waters, director of policy and communications at the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions looks at some of these changes in “New Orleans Experiments with Citywide Voucher Program.”
It took an act of God, converted legislators, and a U-Haul at the governor’s mansion to bring meaningful school choice to New Orleans.
A $10 million needs-based vouched program was started for the city, and families are lining up for the opportunity to receive a voucher to give their children a chance to attend a different school
“African-American parents in this city aren’t usually able to afford a private school for their children,” Smith said. “When they have an opportunity like this, I’m pretty sure they’re going to jump on it.”
Jump they did. State Rep. Austin Badon (D-New Orleans), who sponsored the bill establishing the new voucher program, said more than 600 parents had shown up by the third day of the week-long application period in early July. The Times-Picayune reported 200 parents waited in line before the doors opened at Dryades YMCA for the chance to send their children to private or religious schools.
Approved solidly by Louisiana’s House (62-34) and Senate (25-12), the legislation creates $6,300 vouchers for 1,500 children from low-income homes to enroll in a private school this year. Children attending kindergarten through third grade who come from households with incomes not exceeding 250 percent of federal poverty guidelines (not more than $53,000 for a family of four, for example) may apply.
We look forward to seeing the results of this first year of the program.
The power of choice
Just a few short years ago, New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. But, with a lot of hard work and innovation, the city and the region is bouncing back. And while there are still many challenges ahead- and plenty of obstacles to overcome, there is reason for hope. One of those areas is education. Thanks to efforts to allow choice and competition in the rebuilding of the educational system, students and families are reaping the benefits.
The education system is another shining success story of what can happen when school choice and competition are allowed to flourish – better test scores and the 80-plus new charter schools now makeup 50 percent of public schools currently operating in New Orleans.
