2. Government Affairs Manager National PTA Lindsay Kubatzky
Joshua Westfall
Government Affairs Manager
National PTA
Lindsay Kubatzky
Government Affairs Coordinator
National PTA

3. Agenda 1. National PTA Position on School Choice
2. Types of School Vouchers
3. Federal Voucher Programs and Legislation
4. National PTA Resources

4. Question of the Day:
Does National PTA oppose all school choice options for children and families?

5. Public School Choice
The National PTA supports educational choices within public schools and believes that parents should be involved in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of public school choice plans.

6. Other District Schools Out of District Public Schools
Public School Choice
In District Choices
Out of District Choices
Other District Schools
Magnet Schools
Out of District Public Schools
In School Programs
As long as families are engaged, students have access to free transportation, assure equal educational opportunities and public funds are used for public schools
Special programs within a school
Choice of public school within the same district
Choice of a school in another district
Magnet schools (specialized program & aligned curricula)

7. Does National PTA support charter schools?
2nd Question of the Day
Does National PTA support charter schools?

8. Are there such things as “private” charter schools?
BONUS Question of the Day
Are there such things as “private” charter schools?

9. Charter Schools Position Statement
Free
Open
Public Funds Are Not Diverted
Accountable
Certified Teachers
Engage Families
Be open to all students
Free of both tuition charges and fees
Do not divert funding from public schools
Comply with federal and state laws governing public schools (accountability)
Ensure that professional staff is certified for the position(s) they hold
Ensure meaningful family engagement

10. Private School Vouchers/Choice

11. Private School Vouchers
National PTA has a longstanding position statement opposing any private school choice system—vouchers, tax credits or deductions—that would divert public school resources.

12. 9 Reasons to Oppose Voucher Schemes
Violate Principles of Religious Freedom
Take Away Public School Funding
Don’t Help Students with Disabilities
Don’t Improve Education
Lack Accountability
Students Lose Rights
Schools Choose the Kids
Vouchers Don’t Help Kids in Poverty
Vouchers Aren’t Popular
Religion: Public tax payer money can go to religious schools
Funding: Reduces overall dollars, number of students served and puts larger burden on community
SWD: Doesn’t offer them FAPE or accommodations—sign away rights
Education: Studies show no increases in math or reading scores and often students do worse
Accountability: Don’t have to follow federal or state standards (including assessments)
Students lose rights: IDEA, Title IX, Due Process, Free Speech, Open records
Schools Choose: no parents decision. Can deny entry due to money, academic records, disability, religion or gender
Poverty: often the tuition is higher than the federal or state subsidy
Popularity: Not in every state and especially hard for rural areas

13. Education Savings Account Portability (Title I or IDEA)
Traditional
Tuition Tax Credits
Education Savings Account
Portability (Title I or IDEA)
4 Types of Private School Voucher Schemes

14. Public Education Funding Structure
Taxpayer
Federal Government
States
School Districts
Public Schools

15. Portability (Title I or IDEA)
Taxpayer
Federal Government
States
Follows the Child

16. Traditional Private School Vouchers
Taxpayer
Government
Student
Private School

17. Education Savings Accounts
Taxpayer
Government
Savings Account
Private School
Student

18. Scholarship Granting Organization Individual or Corporation
Tuition Tax Credits
Scholarship Granting Organization
Individual or Corporation
Government
Student
Private School

19. Private School Choice National Snapshot
States with private school choice include: AL, AZ, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MN, MS, MT, NH, NV, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA and WI
DC voucher program—only federally funded voucher program
52 private school choice programs across 24 states
26 private school vouchers programs
21 tax-credit scholarships
5 education savings accounts

20. Federal Voucher Proposals
Choices in Education Act
Educational Opportunities Act
SOAR Act
Federal Budget Proposals

21. National PTA Resources

23. Thank you for Attending!
The Next General Session Will