School Vouchers

[Anonymous]

If public schools are not going to open full time in the fall, should we start to push for school vouchers so that our children can go to private schools that are open in person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If public schools are not going to open full time in the fall, should we start to push for school vouchers so that our children can go to private schools that are open in person?

This needs to go to the Virginia General Assembly. It is not a local issue.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I realize this is a Republican talking point. I'm a democrat who has never supported this in the past. But now I'm starting to see the value in it since my public school can't educate my children. My wealthier neighbors already send their children to private school. This year has been so expensive in terms of additional child care and tutoring costs - I will go bankrupt if this continues another year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I realize this is a Republican talking point. I'm a democrat who has never supported this in the past. But now I'm starting to see the value in it since my public school can't educate my children. My wealthier neighbors already send their children to private school. This year has been so expensive in terms of additional child care and tutoring costs - I will go bankrupt if this continues another year.

Agree. I am also a liberal democrat now in favor of school choice. I am plowing through my savings to pay for a “learning hub” at a local preschool for my kids. JFC, open the schools! I can’t do this another year. Hybrid/concurrent is garbage for elementary. Open the schools NOW!!! If we had vouchers, the private schools would add classes and they could hire all the public school teachers that get laid off due to decrease enrollment.

[Anonymous]

What good are vouchers with no open spots? How on earth could private schools absorb all these unsatisfied people?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What good are vouchers with no open spots? How on earth could private schools absorb all these unsatisfied people?

They will add classes and hire the public school teachers that get laid off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What good are vouchers with no open spots? How on earth could private schools absorb all these unsatisfied people?

How can they add classes if they don't physically have the space? Parents would be waiting years for the private school market to grow in NoVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What good are vouchers with no open spots? How on earth could private schools absorb all these unsatisfied people?

How can they add classes if they don't physically have the space? Parents would be waiting years for the private school market to grow in NoVA.

+1 And they're not going to buy new buildings for what may only be a temporary spike in enrollment. The other option is to increase their classroom size, but that's going to piss off their regular customers who chose private for the small class size.

Vouchers are also not for full tuition costs, so even if the state diverts funding, parents will still be paying for school - especially in this area, unless you're willing to go parochial school, you're looking at $20-40K/kid, which the state will not cover fully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What good are vouchers with no open spots? How on earth could private schools absorb all these unsatisfied people?

How can they add classes if they don't physically have the space? Parents would be waiting years for the private school market to grow in NoVA.

+1 And they're not going to buy new buildings for what may only be a temporary spike in enrollment. The other option is to increase their classroom size, but that's going to piss off their regular customers who chose private for the small class size.

Vouchers are also not for full tuition costs, so even if the state diverts funding, parents will still be paying for school - especially in this area, unless you're willing to go parochial school, you're looking at $20-40K/kid, which the state will not cover fully.

I might use a school voucher to pay for all the extra in person tutoring. My private school might get trailers like the public schools. My private school might find that they have more space. It's not really the point is it? If public school can't educate my child, then I should have the choice to educate them elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If public schools are not going to open full time in the fall, should we start to push for school vouchers so that our children can go to private schools that are open in person?

No, we should not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I realize this is a Republican talking point. I'm a democrat who has never supported this in the past. But now I'm starting to see the value in it since my public school can't educate my children. My wealthier neighbors already send their children to private school. This year has been so expensive in terms of additional child care and tutoring costs - I will go bankrupt if this continues another year.

What do you mean your public school can’t educate your children? Are you doing distance learning or not?!? Mine are and they are learning just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What good are vouchers with no open spots? How on earth could private schools absorb all these unsatisfied people?

How can they add classes if they don't physically have the space? Parents would be waiting years for the private school market to grow in NoVA.

+1 And they're not going to buy new buildings for what may only be a temporary spike in enrollment. The other option is to increase their classroom size, but that's going to piss off their regular customers who chose private for the small class size.

Vouchers are also not for full tuition costs, so even if the state diverts funding, parents will still be paying for school - especially in this area, unless you're willing to go parochial school, you're looking at $20-40K/kid, which the state will not cover fully.

I might use a school voucher to pay for all the extra in person tutoring. My private school might get trailers like the public schools. My private school might find that they have more space. It's not really the point is it? If public school can't educate my child, then I should have the choice to educate them elsewhere.

You always have that choice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What good are vouchers with no open spots? How on earth could private schools absorb all these unsatisfied people?

How can they add classes if they don't physically have the space? Parents would be waiting years for the private school market to grow in NoVA.

+1 And they're not going to buy new buildings for what may only be a temporary spike in enrollment. The other option is to increase their classroom size, but that's going to piss off their regular customers who chose private for the small class size.

Vouchers are also not for full tuition costs, so even if the state diverts funding, parents will still be paying for school - especially in this area, unless you're willing to go parochial school, you're looking at $20-40K/kid, which the state will not cover fully.

I might use a school voucher to pay for all the extra in person tutoring. My private school might get trailers like the public schools. My private school might find that they have more space. It's not really the point is it? If public school can't educate my child, then I should have the choice to educate them elsewhere.

It’s exactly the point. Find that they have more space? Add trailers? You’re dreaming if you think the existing private school structure can or wants to take on a mass exodus from public schools.

[Anonymous]

New schools can and will open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What good are vouchers with no open spots? How on earth could private schools absorb all these unsatisfied people?

How can they add classes if they don't physically have the space? Parents would be waiting years for the private school market to grow in NoVA.

+1 And they're not going to buy new buildings for what may only be a temporary spike in enrollment. The other option is to increase their classroom size, but that's going to piss off their regular customers who chose private for the small class size.

Vouchers are also not for full tuition costs, so even if the state diverts funding, parents will still be paying for school - especially in this area, unless you're willing to go parochial school, you're looking at $20-40K/kid, which the state will not cover fully.

I might use a school voucher to pay for all the extra in person tutoring. My private school might get trailers like the public schools. My private school might find that they have more space. It's not really the point is it? If public school can't educate my child, then I should have the choice to educate them elsewhere.

It’s exactly the point. Find that they have more space? Add trailers? You’re dreaming if you think the existing private school structure can or wants to take on a mass exodus from public schools.

And a lot of private schools know smaller leads to higher quality. As soon as you drop double or triple attendance, quality decreases. Even public schools know that.