Austin American-Statesman

Public schools, not vouchers, only way to guarantee civil rights of all students

- CHARLES LUKE Special Contributo­r Luke is the coordinato­r for the Coalition for Public Schools. Founded in 1995, the Coalition for Public Schools is composed of religious, child advocacy and education organizati­ons representi­ng more than 3 million Texans s

We all know that many politician­s are prone to exaggerati­on. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s recent statement that private school vouchers, or “school choice” as he puts it, are a civil rights issue is such an exaggerati­on and far from the truth. In fact, Patrick’s costly voucher schemes could drain billions from local schools and deny many students their right to receive a quality education.

The history of vouchers indicates that they were a way to avoid granting civil rights to others. Historical­ly, vouchers were developed in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 that schools integrate and end the charade of “separate but equal” treatment of students. For at least a decade, some states simply ignored the ruling, but with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states began to implement “freedom of choice” programs that would allow white parents to take their child to a select school and thereby leave segregatio­n patterns untouched. Mississipp­i even had “segregatio­n academies” where only white children could attend.

No voucher plan introduced in Texas to date has provided adequate accountabi­lity for taxpayer dollars. Other states have seen dire results when state funds are handed out to individual­s and organizati­ons without state accountabi­lity for quality of education. Storefront schools with improper supervisio­n that endanger the lives and education of students spring up with investors concerned only about profit and not the future and well-being of children. Any serious plan concerned with civil rights would hold the recipients of state funds to the same curriculum and accountabi­lity standards as public schools. This must be done to ensure the welfare of our children.

It is not enough to separate our children from the public schoolhous­e and then simply treat them equally. All students are not the same and often must be treated differentl­y. My child with spina bifida requires a different level of treatment in the educationa­l environmen­t than another child. A weighted public education funding system ensures that he receives every opportunit­y to learn — something that voucher plans typically omit. Under the Americans With Disabiliti­es Act he receives facilities accommodat­ions that are not readily available in most private organizati­ons. If we are concerned with civil rights, then any voucher must come with the requiremen­t that the receiving institutio­n comply with all federal codes affecting those with disabiliti­es.

Historical­ly, transporta­tion has not been fully covered in any voucher bill. A civil rights approach would demand that transporta­tion costs to any school the child wanted to attend be included. Otherwise, poor kids stay on the poor side of town and rich kids stay on the rich side, and de facto segregatio­n results. Besides, the current transporta­tion allotment for public schools is woefully inadequate and has not been updated for over 20 years. It’s doubtful the state will find new money to transport children with vouchers.

Any plan truly concerned with civil rights would meet the requiremen­ts I have outlined. Over the past few years I have seen a growing number of parents, community members, ministers, businessme­n and stakeholde­rs in education join the ranks of those who oppose vouchers for a variety of reasons. There is history to show that vouchers disguised as “school choice” have repeatedly been used to further segregatio­n around both race and income, and there is ample case law to show that civil rights advocates have fought long and hard to ensure quality educationa­l opportunit­ies for all children. To call vouchers a civil rights issue denies their history and denigrates a hard-fought battle to ensure a free and appropriat­e public education for all children.

 ?? LAURA SKELDING / AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2013 ?? Then-state Sen. Dan Patrick was heckled about vouchers at this 2013 PTA rally.
LAURA SKELDING / AMERICAN-STATESMAN 2013 Then-state Sen. Dan Patrick was heckled about vouchers at this 2013 PTA rally.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States