June 15, 2013 Notre Dame Parental Choice Symposium.

June 15, 2013

Notre Dame Parental Choice Symposium

States with Publicly-FundedPrivate School Choice Programs

DEMD

GA

VAUT

RICT

NJDC

NM

FL

AZ

NV

LA

CO

WY

SC

IA

WI

INOH

PA

NH

IL

VT

CA

ND

MI

AL

ID SD

NE

MT

WA

OR

KS

OK

TX

AR

MO

MNNY

ME

NC

WV

MA

KY

TN

MS

HI

AK

35 Publicly-Funded Private School Choice Programs

Voucher Programs

In a voucher program, the public funds that would have been spent on a child’s behalf at a public school follow that child to the private school of their parents’ choice.


Scholarship Tax Credit Programs

In a scholarship tax credit program, individuals or corporations donate funds to a charitable organization that provides scholarships for children to attend the private school of their parent’s choice. In turn, the state gives these donors a tax credit worth up to 100% of their contribution.

Note: The scholarships are provided using private funds.


Parental Tax Credit Programs

In a parental tax credit program, the state provides parents who send their children to private schools with a tax credit that reimburses them for some of the costs for educating their children.

Note: Middle class and wealthier parents are most able to benefit from a parental tax credit unless the tax credits are made refundable.


Education Savings Accounts

In an ESA program, the state puts funds that would have been spent on the child’s behalf at a public school into an account that the parents control. The parents may spend the money as they see fit on their child’s education.

Note: ESA’s give parents the greatest amount of choice in designing their child’s education. In fact, unspent funds can be saved to pay for college.

Enrollment Growth 1990-Present

Growth Since 2000

Growth in Public Funds

245,854 Students Participating in 2012-13 School Year

Average Scholarship Value 2012-2013

Choice Enrollment by State

Private School Scholarship Funding by State

Legislative Progress for School Choice Legislation

Number of states that have passed legislation out of at least one chamber

Number of chambers that have passed choice legislation

DEMD

GA

VAUT

RICT

NJDC

NM

FL

AZ

NV

LA

CO

WY

SC

IA

WI

INOH

PA

NH

IL

VT

CA

ND

MI

AL

ID SD

NE

MT

WA

OR

KS

OK

TX

AR

MO

MNNY

ME

NC

WV

MA

KY

TN

MS

HI

AK

Passed ONE Legislative House

Passed TWO Legislative Houses10

2

Legislative Progress 2013

Growth in States with Programs

Legislative Trends

Bigger, Bolder Programs•Indiana•Louisiana•Arizona•Ohio?•North Carolina?

More Bipartisan Support•Florida•North Carolina•Iowa

School Choice is on the March

Greatest Opportunity in the Future

Growing

Democratic Support

Democratic Support in 2006

Democrat

Republican

Dem/Rep Tie

STATE LEGISLATION GOVERNOR HOUSE SENATEAZ Individual Scholarship Tax Credit Improvements Democrat Republican Republican

Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit Enacted Democrat Republican Republican

Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit Expanded Democrat Republican Republican

Vouchers for Foster Children Enacted Democrat Republican Republican

Vouchers for Special Needs Students Enacted Democrat Republican Republican

FL Accountability and Voucher Fix Republican Republican Republican

OH Eligibility Expansion for Ed Choice Scholarships Republican Republican Republican

IA Individual Scholarship Tax Credit Enacted Democrat Republican Dem/Rep Tie

PA Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit Expanded Democrat Republican Republican

RI Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit Enacted Republican Democrat Democrat

UT Improvement to Special Needs Voucher Republican Republican Republican

WI MPCP Expansion and Accountability Democrat Republican Republican

Democratic Support in 2007

STATE LEGISLATION GOVERNOR HOUSE SENATE

AZ Individual Scholarship Tax Credit Expanded Democrat Republican Republican

GA Special Needs Scholarship Enacted Republican Republican Republican

IA Individual Scholarship Tax Credit Expanded Democrat Democrat Democrat

PA Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit Expanded Democrat Democrat Republican

RI Eligibility Expansion for Donors Republican Democrat Democrat

UT Statewide Means-Tested Voucher Enacted Republican Republican Republican

Democrat

Republican

Democratic Support Growing

• Between 2006-2010, a majority of the school choice bills

enacted into law had the support of a Democratic Governor or a

Democratic Legislative house.

• Since 2006, seven Democratic Governors have enacted fifteen

school choice bills.

• Since 2006, 14 legislative chambers with Democratic majorities

adopted school choice bills.

Democratic Governors who approved school choice measures

AZ Janet Napolitano 6 bills 2006, 2007, 2008

IA Tom Vilsack 1 Bill 2006

IA Chet Culver 2 Bills 2007, 2009

NC Beverly Perdue 1 Bill 2011

PA Ed Rendell 3 Bills 2006, 2007, 2008

WI Jim Doyle 1 Bill 2006

OK Brad Henry 1 Bill 2010

Democratic legislative majorities that approved school choice bills

Democratic House Democratic Senate

Rhode Island

Iowa

Pennsylvania

Louisiana

Indiana

US House

Rhode Island

Iowa

New Mexico

Louisiana

Maryland

Oklahoma (Tied)

Illinois

US Senate

Continued Progress with Democrats since 2010

In Florida, 46% of the Democrats voted to dramatically expand the scholarship tax credit program. Plus, an expansion of the special needs scholarship program was authored by Democrats in both houses—and passed with a majority of Democrats on board.


• In the 2010 Pennsylvania race for Governor, both the Republican and Democratic nominees supported a voucher proposal by Democratic State Senator Anthony Williams.


• In North Carolina in 2011, a special needs education tax credit passed the House 94-20 and the Senate 44-5 with 65% of the Democrats voting in favor.

• In 2013, the statewide voucher legislation was authored by two Democrats and two Republicans.

• In 2013, the House passed a special needs voucher unanimously.


•In Iowa in 2013, both house of the legislature passed an expansion of their scholarship tax credit program unanimously.

•In Louisiana, the legislature created a statewide voucher program with a strong bi-partsan vote.

•In Ohio, Democratic votes helped keep a new statewide voucher program in the budget and two Democrats are the authors of a new scholarship tax credit proposal.

•In Rhode Island, the Democratic Speaker Pro Tem is the author of a statewide voucher proposal.


• In Washington DC in 2011, President Obama signed a 5 year extension and a major expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship Program as part of the bipartisan budget agreement.

Diane Feinstein (CA)

Joseph Lieberman (CT)

Bill Nelson (FL)

Mark Warner (VA)

Robert Byrd (WV)

Democratic U. S. Senators Who Voted for DC Vouchers


“What is everybody scared of? The real goal of education, ought to be to provide a number of different choices for youngsters so you can see where they learn best and then enable them to be in that situation."

Senator Diane FeinsteinU. S. Senate Floor Debate

March 22, 2010

Dr. Patrick J. WolfPrincipal Investigator for

US DOEd Study

"The D.C. voucher program has proven to be the most effective education policy evaluated by the federal government's official education research arm so far.“ (2009)

The Research is In

Successful Legislative Strategies

Lessons Learned

Most initial school choice victories come as part of a larger legislative package or deal—not as separate legislation.

States with Publicly-CreatedPrivate School Choice Programs

DEMD

GA

VAUT

RICT

NJDC

NM

FL

AZ

NV

LA

CO

WY

SC

IA

WI

INOH

PA

NH

IL

VT

CA

ND

MI

AL

ID SD

NE

MT

WA

OR

KS

OK

TX

AR

MO

MNNY

ME

NC

WV

MA

KY

TN

MS

HI

AK

Lessons Learned

Republican control is not necessary or sufficient for success.

Role of GOP in InitialSchool Choice Victories

State Year Governor House Senate

Wisconsin 1990 Republican Democrat Democrat

Ohio 1995 Republican Republican Republican

Arizona 1997 Republican Republican Republican

Florida 1999 Republican Republican Republican

Pennsylvania 2001 Republican Republican Republican

Washington, DC 2004 Republican* Republican Republican

Utah 2005 Republican Republican Republican

Iowa 2006 Democrat Republican Rep/Dem**

Rhode Island 2006 Republican Democrat Democrat

Georgia 2007 Republican Republican Republican

Louisiana 2008 Republican Democrat Democrat

Indiana 2009 Republican Democrat Republican

Oklahoma 2010 Democrat Republic Democrat

North Carolina 2011 Democrat Republican Republican

Virginia 2012 Republican Republican Republican

* Obviously, in the case of the federal government, the chief executive is the President.** In Iowa, the Republicans and Democrats were tied in the Senate but the Senate Democrat Leader was the key advocate

for school choice.

Lessons Learned

Gubernatorial leadership is valuable but it is no longer required for success.

Lessons Learned

The most recent victories in these states were legislatively driven:

Arizona

Florida

Georgia

Iowa

Oklahoma

New Hampshire

Alabama

Lessons Learned

There are many paths to success. Pick the one that is right for your state.

Initial School Choice Victory

Date State Legislation Program Type

1990 WI Milwaukee Parental Choice Program Voucher

1995 OH Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program Voucher

1997 AZ Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit Scholarship Tax Credit

1999 FL A+ Opportunity Scholarship Program Voucher

2001 PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit Scholarship Tax Credit

2004 DC Opportunity Scholarship Program Voucher

2005 UT Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship Special Needs Voucher

2006 IA Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit Scholarship Tax Credit

2006 RI Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit Program Scholarship Tax Credit

2007 GA Special Needs Scholarship Program Special Needs Voucher

2008 LAStudent Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program (New Orleans)

Voucher

2009 IN Corporate and Individual Scholarship Tax Credit Program Scholarship Tax Credit

2010 OK Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Special Needs Voucher

2011 NC Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities Parental Tax Credit

2012 VA Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits Scholarship Tax Credit

2012 MS Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship Program Special Needs Voucher

Lessons Learned

In America, where you start does not determine where you can end up.

Birth Order in States with Multiple Programs

State Date Program Type

Arizona 1997 Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit Scholarship Tax Credit

2006 Corporate School Tuition Organization Tax Credit Scholarship Tax Credit

2006 Scholarship for Pupils with Disabilities Special Needs Voucher

2006 Displaced Pupils Choice Grant Program Voucher

2011 Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Education Savings Account

Florida 1999 A+ Scholarship Program Voucher

1999 John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Special Needs Voucher

2001 Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit Program Scholarship Tax Credit

Ohio 1995 Scholarship and Tutoring Program Voucher

2003 Autism Scholarship Program Special Needs Voucher

2006 Educational Choice Scholarship Program Voucher

Georgia 2007 Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program Special Needs Voucher

2008 Corporate and Individual Scholarship Tax Credit Program Scholarship Tax Credit

Louisiana 2008 Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Voucher

2010School Choice Pilot Program for Students with Exceptionalities

Special Needs Voucher

2012 Scholarship Tax Rebate Program Scholarship Tax Credit

Legislative Trends

The laboratories of democracy are creating new versions of private school choice:

Foster Children Pre-KFailing Schools AutismDyslexia Military Families

And now, Education Savings Accounts!

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Our Most Effective Messages

#1 Every child has the right to a good education.

• It is a civil right of every child to have the opportunity to receive a quality education. (LA - 97%)

• It shouldn’t matter what neighborhood a child lives in or how much money their parents make. All children should have an equal opportunity to get the same quality education. (LA -97%)

• Every child should have the same opportunity for a quality education regardless of the parent’s financial situation. (MO – 93%)

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#2 Children shouldn’t have to wait for their local school to get better.

• “Vouchers provide an immediate path for children from low income families in failing schools to access a better education.”

74% Likely Voters 79% Latino Voters

• “Opportunity scholarship programs give children from low income families a way out of failing schools so they are not forced to wait indefinitely for their local schools to improve. Students should not be sentenced to a poor education based upon their zip code.”


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#3 More options will help reduce the dropout rate.

• “America is facing a massive dropout crisis. We need all options on the table to help every child graduate from high school. More parental choices will reduce the dropout rate.”


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Our Opponent’s Most Effective Arguments

#1 School choice steals resources from traditional public schools.

• “Vouchers take money from public schools and give it to private and religious schools. Schools cannot improve if they are forced to make do with less valuable resources each year.”


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#1 School choice steals resources from traditional public schools.

Potential Responses• Factual Response: Actually, studies have shown that school

choice programs save money and therefore there is more money left per student in the public schools.

• Emotional Response: We are making a public investment in the future of every child no matter which school their parent chooses.

The money belongs to the families and not the schools.

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#2 School choice programs are not accountable.

• “Private schools do not have the same accountability or standards as public schools. We need more transparency in public schools, not a separate system that is exempt from the rules.”


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#2 School choice programs are not accountable.

Potential Responses• Factual Response: By law, school choice programs must provide

taxpayers with financial and academic accountability.

• Emotional Response: The strictest accountability comes from giving parents the ability to choose which school their child attends. If the private school doesn’t do a good job, the parent can take their money to some other school. Public schools that do a bad job never close.

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#3 Vouchers are unconstitutional.

• “Vouchers are a back door way to use tax dollars to pay for Catholic schools and other religious schools and are a violation of the separation of church and state. Taxpayers should not have to pay for the religious education of other students.”


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#3 Vouchers are unconstitutional.

Potential Responses• Factual Response: Both the US Supreme Court and the Arizona

Supreme Court have found school choice programs to be constitutional.

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What the Public Doesn’t Know

The public does not know that the US Constitution allows public funds to be used to attend private schools.

When told of the U.S. Supreme Court decision permitting this, they overwhelmingly support it

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#4 School choice programs help the best kids escape and leave the public schools worse.

• “Vouchers only work to move motivated students and parents out of public schools and into private ones. This further diminishes the quality of public schools, leaving the schools in a worse situation than they were before.”


60


#4 School choice programs help the best kids escape and leave the public schools worse.

Potential Responses• Factual Response: Actually, studies have shown that kids who are

failing in school or poor are the ones most likely to use school choice to leave their public school.

• Emotional Response: Common sense tells you parents won’t take their child out of a public school where all the friends go if they are doing well. They will only make that choice if the school is failing them.

Drafting Effective School Choice Legislation


The scholarship should be large enough so families can afford a wide range of choices.

• We suggest the scholarship should be tied to school costs not school tuition.

• Legislators may wish to means-test the scholarship amount.


The school choice program must be large enough to create a vigorous market of consumers (students) and producers (schools).

•There must be enough students and schools in a geographically concentrated area to produce a well-functioning competitive market.

•Milwaukee has over 20,000 students choosing from 127 private schools in a single city.


The scholarship should make the public or private school of choice affordable for all parents.

• Experience suggests that most families do not have the financial ability to choose private schooling until the family income reaches about $75,000. Do not make the income eligibility guidelines too low.

• We recommend that states determine program eligibility using a multiple of the national income guidelines for the Free and Reduced Price lunch program.


The market needs stability/certainty to thrive.

• Make sure that a child‘s qualification for the program lasts for the length of their schooling.

• Avoid creating “pilot programs” or program sunsets.


Require administrative, financial and academic accountability.

•As stewards of public funds, legislators should rightly require financial and administrative accountability for participating schools.

•Academic accountability is best achieved by providing clear and consistent information about the academic performance of participating students to both parents and policymakers.

•Educational achievement (Testing)

•Educational attainment (Continuation, Graduation, College Acceptance and Attendance, etc.)


The program should make it easy for families and schools to participate.

•Application and eligibility demonstration should be simple for parents and public financing mechanics should be simple for schools.

•Vouchers are the best financing mechanism for both schools and parents. Tax credits should be refundable and assignable.

How to Lobby the Legislature

Contact Them.

Legislators are often like the Maytag repairman.

• If they get a dozen calls or letters on an issue it’s like a revolt. You have more clout than you know.

• There are some exceptions, but on most issues legislators get almost no contacts from real people.


Contact Them.

The more personal the contact the better.

• Legislators get pretty good at ignoring pre-printed postcards and form letters.

• Individual letters, personal calls or visits carry much more weight.


The Legislative Hotline Number is Not 911.

Don’t call only when you’re in trouble.

Establish a personal relationship.• Invite your legislator on a tour.• Show up at office hours• Show up at the legislator’s events • Volunteer to work with your legislator


The Facts Beat Money or Drinks.

• Establish credibility through your existing relationship.

• Present your case in a well-summarized factual way.

• Never lie. Credibility is hard to gain but very easy to lose.


The Facts Beat Money or Drinks.

• Anticipate problems and responses. Show that you understand the choice your lawmaker faces.

• Look for ways to develop solutions not to identify problems. (Be a problem solver not another problem.)


Don’t Threaten. Be Polite.

• “I will never vote for you again.” or “I will organize a campaign against you.” are not things that will make lawmakers eager to work with you in the future.

• If you burn bridges, don’t expect to use them in the future. Despite today’s disagreement you will want or need to work together on another issue tomorrow.


Help Legislators to Succeed and to Look Good.

•Make it in your legislator’s self-interest to work with you.

•Use things like ribbon cuttings, check presentations, newsletters, organization meetings, etc. as a way to give recognition to lawmakers working with you.


You Must be Present to Win.

•Labor and Environmental groups often beat business groups at the state capitol because business folks view politics as a dirty business to be avoided, labor and environmentalists see it as a way to achieve their goals.

•You are able to see impacts of legislation that legislators might miss. If you are involved and engaged you can head off bad changes before they happen.


You Must be Present to Win.

•The most effective presence you can have at the Capitol is to have one of your folks elected to office. There is no substitute for being the “person in the room’ when decisions are being made.


Say Thank You.

• The two rarest words in politics are “thank you.”

• Legislators are human. If they hear “thank you” from you when they do something right, they are more likely to listen to the criticism from you when they do something wrong.

June 15, 2013 Notre Dame Parental Choice Symposium.

Documents

state slide

school year slide

present slide

private school choice

public funds slide

parents choice

parental tax credit

public school