Different Types of Schools

1. Different Types of Schools School Funding

2. Public Schools • Established by states (10th Amendment) • Paid for by tax dollars • Usually run by local board of elected officials • Open to all students who live in the district • Subject to all federal anti-discrimination laws • IDEA • Title IX

3. Private Schools • Privately owned and operated • Religious (parochial) schools • Montessori Schools • Independent Foundations • Schools for profit • Paid for by donations/tuition • Can select which students attend • Do not have to adhere to federal anti-discrimination regulations

4. Magnet Schools • Public Schools • Focus on particular area of study to attract students • Many were originally created for the purpose of voluntary desegregation • May have competitive entrance process

5. Charter Schools • Publicly funded; operated independently • Operates under a charter, or contract, with the state • Subject to all federal anti-discrimination regulations • Open to all students who seek enrollment • Free of charge • Have more freedom than public schools in curriculum • Still accountable for results– charter is renewed periodically • Created by educators who envision a school committed to a particular purpose and philosophy • Currently allowed in 40 states and D.C.

6. Homeschooling • Choosing to educate students at home rather than in a public or private school • Parents select the curriculum • May be done with internet, correspondence, or independent instruction • No state funding is given to parents choosing to homeschool their children • Parents do not need to be certified teachers • Idaho does not check on academic progress

7. Other • Dual enrollment: students take some courses with the public school but is otherwise homeschooled • Dual Credit: students in high school enroll in a class which operates in conjunction with a college class. Students receive college credit for lower fees • Virtual Schools: for profit schools which offer on-line classes

8. School Funding • In Idaho, school funding has lost $200 million in the past two years, with additional cuts slated for 2012 • In 2005, the Idaho Supreme Court found that school funding was insufficient and unconstitutional • Vouchers: certificate by which parents are given the ability to pay for the education of their children at a school of their choice, either public or private

9. Legalities • The U.S. Supreme Court ruled vouchers constitutional in 2002 • Currently only five states– Maine, Ohio (Cleveland only) Vermont, Utah and Wisconsin (Milwaukee only) and the District of Columbia have voucher programs • Florida had one until state supreme court threw it out in 2006

10. Arguments for Vouchers • Rich parents have a choice of schools for their kids; poor parents should have the same choice. • Competition between schools is increased, leading to greater efficiency and results in all schools. • Private schools have a better history of getting results than public schools. • Those parents who send their kids to private schools still have to pay taxes for public schools as well. • Providing private school access to everyone will increase diversity. • The parent makes the choice between religious or non-religious schooling; thus the government isn’t imposing religion.

11. Arguments against vouchers • Since most of the schools in the program are religious, government funding violates the 1st Amendment separation of church and state. • Vouchers take funds away from already underfunded public schools. • Private schools aren’t accountable to any oversight organization; they do not have to follow State or Federal regulations for accountability and testing. • Public schools must accept everyone regardless of disabilities, test scores, religion, or other characteristics; private schools can show favoritism or discrimination in selecting students.

12. Tuition Tax Credits • Essentially the same thing as vouchers, only with a set amount of tax deduction given for tuition paid to private schools. • Currently available in Minnesota, Iowa, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.