Independent Schools and Government Regulation

1. Independent Schools and Government Regulation Dan Dodd, Ohio Association of Independent Schools Whitney Work, National Association of Independent Schools

2. 2 Major Ways Schools Affected by Regulation • Money • Curriculum / Testing

3. Money • Direct Funding: Examples include vouchers, state-funded scholarships and payment for educational materials • Indirect Funding: Examples include ax credit scholarship programs, student transportation, health and other personnel

4. Money (cont’d) • Key difference between direct / indirect funding is if money comes directly to the school or through an intermediary (parents, non-profit, etc.) • If the money goes through an intermediary, programs get less scrutiny under state Blaine amendments

5. Money (cont’d) • 2 major ways of funding for schools are vouchers and scholarships • Vouchers • Families receive a state-funded scholarship that can be used at a participating private school • Special needs scholarships may also be used for non-school service providers • Types of vouchers: Universal, failing school, income-based, condition-based

6. Money (cont’d) • 2 major ways of funding for schools are vouchers and scholarships • Scholarships • Individuals and corporations receive tax credits for contributions to non-profits that distribute scholarships • Money does not, in theory, go directly to schools but first to the non-profit

7. Curriculum / Testing • Many states have mandates for nonpublic school students to receive a designated number of credits in certain classes in order to graduate. • No states require nonpublic schools to follow a curriculum (ALEC American history bill notwithstanding) • Only one state (Ohio) has a mandated test that all students in public and nonpublic schools must pass in order to receive a diploma from the school • Worth remembering: PARCC and Smarter Balanced haven’t anticipated private schools being tested, tests will not reflect private school input or philosophies.

8. How are Money and Testing Tied Together? • In some states, to receive direct or indirect state funding, private schools must impose state-mandated testing on scholarship students. • Testing is back-door way to impose a curriculum on schools, depending on how results are used: • Grade cards: Eligibility for future voucher enrollment depends on certain results • Release of results: Test results for use as comparisons with local schools may lead to “teaching to the test” in order to ensure higher scores

9. What Could All This Mean for Independent Schools? • Common Core back door? • The wide adoption of Common Core by public schools will push all testing to reflect Common Core principles • Any program that relies on standardized testing for accountability or monitoring will essentially force adoption of standards • Testing options that come with money may end up influencing the curriculum

10. What Could All This Mean for Independent Schools? • Dependency • Once schools begin to participate in scholarship programs, it’s difficult to end participation: • Parental dependency on the money • Admissions personnel may use scholarships as recruiting tool • If rules change after a school begins participation, school must balance its independence with what parents may want.

11. What Can Independent Schools Do About This? • Become familiar with legislators and have legislators become familiar with you and your schools • Organize lobby days at your statehouse • Host legislator visits to showcase school’s unique program and curriculum • Create talking points so advocates are singing from the same hymnal • Utilize social media to engage in debate on private schools and school choice issues

12. Conclusion • Questions? • Rate this session in the 2014 NAIS Annual Conference Mobile App • Go to the workshop listing, click on the Actions tab • Choose “Rate Session” to provide valuable feedback on this workshop