The House “Education Freedom” Committee’s first meeting today was what we expected: free from any panel representation by public school advocates or Mississippi educators and pretty much fact-free, as well. What we got were the standard cherry-picking of data and spin of the voucher lobby, such as the claim that burdening taxpayers with the private school tuition of the estimated 50,000 children currently attending private schools won’t cost the state any new money. Math apparently isn’t their strong suit.
Today’s speakers were Dr. Laurie Smith and Dr. Lindsey Burke, both representing federal government agencies and both tasked with promoting school choice. Dr. Burke asserted that school choice states were outperforming non-school choice states on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The opposite is true: while Mississippi has gained 10 points in average NAEP scores over the last decade, every one of the top 10 school choice states has seen its proficiency rates decline. When Rep. McCarty pointed out that Arizona (which Dr. Burke cited most often as the best of the best among school choice states) had sunk below Mississippi on the NAEP assessment since adopting its voucher program, Dr. Burke said that couldn’t be blamed on school choice.
Throughout Dr. Burke’s presentation, she cited often what she implied was Mississippi’s unacceptably low public school proficiency rate on the NAEP assessment as a reason that parents should be able to take public dollars to private schools. When I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Burke following adjournment of the committee, I asked her for the comparable private school proficiency rate. She answered that they have no such data on private schools and that it very likely is no better than the public school proficiency rate (despite hand-picking the students they admit). But, she said, for her, it isn’t about student outcomes or proficiency rates, it’s about freedom!
Dr. Burke did acknowledge that the studies showing that vouchers take kids backward academically are the studies that require public and private voucher school students to take the same tests – the ones with objective, apples-to-apples comparisons. She also advised against allowing such (damning) evidence to be collected in our state, urging that publicly funded private schools not be required to relinquish their autonomy or be forced to adhere to the same accountability requirements as public schools.
So, there you have it, taxpayers. The voucher lobby wants the freedom to spend your hard-earned public dollars any way they choose with no accountability at all. Parents in Arizona are taking full advantage of that brand of “education freedom” to purchase diamond rings, necklaces, lingerie and more.
Please remind Education Freedom Committee members that there is no “freedom” for our children in letting private schools pick and choose who to educate with our tax dollars. Public funds are for public schools that are accountable for how their dollars are spent and are open to ALL children.
FIND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE.
Send the same message to Speaker White: 601.359.3300
Please call your own legislators and Lt. Gov. Hosemann with the message above:
Lt. Gov. Hosemann: 601.359.3200
In a later post, I’ll fill you in on some of the other alarming proposals floated in today’s meeting. We will need to remain vigilant and work closely alongside our lawmakers to ensure that the callous disregard for the wellbeing of Mississippi’s most vulnerable children does not make it into our education statute. These are dangerous times for our children, our public schools, and our local communities.
Rep. Jansen Owen, vice chair of the Education Freedom Committee, assured attendees that there will be more committee meetings in the weeks ahead and that those who oppose school choice (the overwhelming majority of Mississippians) also will have a voice in this process. In the meantime, it is critical that you make your voice heard. Your legislators need to know that you are committed to giving them the support they need to stand strong for your community, and your public schools. Our children are counting on us, and together, we’ve got this!
Nancy Loome, Executive Director
