UPDATE: SB 160 DEBATED THIS WEEK
WE MUST CONNECT WITH ALL 34 SENATORS ASAP...CLICK LINK BELOW
TIME TO SUPERCHARGE OUR EFFORTS AND REACH ALL SENATORS BY CLICKING LINK ABOVE
Dear Colleague,
It is time to intensify our efforts in contesting SB 160 (Voucher Bill). Last week, we launched our opposition campaign. MoASSP successfully reached a total of 23 Missouri state senators. Thanks to our Advocates for contacting their state senator(s). In addition to the 23 senators contacted, we must now supercharge our efforts and reach the other eleven senators immediately.
We believe that SB 160 will be brought to the Senate floor for debate in the next few days. It is not too late to engage your state senator. It is just the right time. If you missed engaging last week, now is the time. Even with possible modifications to the bill, our Association remains opposed.
MoASSP is a diverse Association. We represent all secondary school principals in Missouri. We are strongest when our members, along with others in the education community, are well-informed and engage together to oppose legislation that would be harmful to children and schools. We need your strong principal voice to reverberate in the Senate chambers.
Last week, we shared with you that all eleven of the Missouri School Administrators Coalition (SAC), adamantly opposes SB 160. SAC opposes SB 160 for the following reasons:
- Expensive: This voucher tax credit scheme will cost $25 million (which may be lowered to $15 million once the bill is brought to the floor) when Missouri's budget situation is already extremely vulnerable.
- Vouchers Do not Work: Voucher programs have not been proven to aid student learning. In an analysis performed by the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability regarding the Indiana School Choice Scholarship Program in April of 2015, it was noted that "none of the independent studies performed on the most lauded and longstanding voucher programs in the U.S., found any statistical evidence that children who utilized vouchers performed better than children who did not and remained in the public schools."
- Vouchers aid least in need: Voucher programs tend to help students least in need. In a study conducted by the pro-voucher group, EdChoice, researchers found that Arizona's voucher program disproportionately served white students and those from more affluent families. Specifically, EdChoice found that the entire student population in Arizona is 41% white, yet 76% of those participating in the voucher program are white. Further, the median household income in Arizona is $50,000, yet over 60% of those students using the voucher program live in families who are in higher income brackets.
- Vouchers Do Not Save School Districts Money. Further, the bill permits a qualified student to attend a public school that is not their resident district. In terms of financing and to the point about saving districts money, the bill would permit a receiving district to count the child as ADA. The student would then be free to spend the $6,308 (current SAT) voucher on other permitted items enumerated in the bill (e.g., computer hardware). Essentially, the bill permits double dipping or, at a minimum, additional use of taxpayer dollars.
- Creates Open Enrollment: Senate Bill 160 contains an open enrollment provision which permits students to utilize the voucher to attend a public school that is not their resident district as noted directly above.
- Unfair to students who struggle (Special Education, Alternative Education Students)
Please take just a couple of minutes right now, seize the moment, and send a convincing email to your state senator with one click and encourage them to oppose SB 160.
Respectfully,
Clark Mershon
Executive Director, MoASSP
Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals
The vision of MoASSP is to serve ALL middle level and high school administrators.
The mission of MoASSP is to improve secondary education through positive leadership and the enhancement of student performance.
Email: moassp@moassp.org
Website: www.moassp.org
Location: 2409 W Ash St, Columbia, MO 65203, USA
Phone: 573-445-5071
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoSecondaryPrincipalsAssociation/
Twitter: @MoASSP