tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post113661033906667546..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: School VouchersAlonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1136650330074791982006-01-07T09:12:00.000-07:002006-01-07T09:12:00.000-07:00Even-handed analysis of the religious angle. Thank...Even-handed analysis of the religious angle. Thanks. <BR/><BR/>School vouchers would be a big step up from the current policy but they are too respectful of institutions to promote a rapid evolution of the education industry. Also, school vouchers invite State intrusion into the operation of independent and parochial schools. For these and other reasons, I prefer a policy I call Parent Performance Contracting (PPC). Under PPC, your State Legislature mandates that State (government, generally) schools --must-- hire any parent, on a personal service contract, to provide for his/her child's education, if the parent applies for the contract. Make payment equal to some fraction 0 < a/b < 1 of the school's regular-ed per pupil budget. Make payment contingent on his/her child's performance at or above age-level expectations on standardized tests of reading vocabulary, reading comprehension (any language), and Math.<BR/><BR/>Parents could then homeschool, hire tutors, extend daycare to age 18, or supplement the contract value and pay tuition to independent or parochial schools. <BR/><BR/>PPC offers financial and performance accountability, minimizes the threat of State intrusion into the operations of independent and parochial schools, creates a wide range of educational options, requires little new administrative machinery, and elides the whole Church/State separation argument.Malcolm Kirkpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01294436437292859972noreply@blogger.com