Education Policy Address by Sen. John Edwards
posted in Candidates, Education vouchers, Issues, John Edwards (D) |Original source: http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?kaid=106&subid=122&contentid=251080
The president continues to tout private school vouchers. I oppose them because they divert resources and energy from reform and divert students into the only schools that don’t have to meet high standards. Proponents advocate two things — competition and parental choice — but misleadingly suggest these are only possible with private school vouchers.
Competition is good for schools, and parental choice is good for kids. But we can give kids competition and choice within our accountable, public system.
Today, many public school choice programs are having trouble because there aren’t enough schools or parents involved. We shouldn’t give up on these programs; we should make them work by making a billion-dollar investment in public school choice. We’ll say to districts that need it most: If you’ll provide universal public school choice for your students, we’ll help you pay for it.
You should give every parent a choice where to send their kids to school; provide transportation within the district; encourage charter schools, making sure they meet the same standards as other schools, and shutting down the ones that don’t; and make the new funds portable so that a student brings money to the school he chooses and takes money from the school he leaves. These policies will help fulfill the promise of public school choice.
