WSJ: La. is redefining voucher program as U.S. knows it

Louisiana is poised to establish the nation’s most expansive system of school choice, according to an article in The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, by adopting Gov. Bobby Jindal’s package of vouchers and other tools that would give many parents control over the use of tax dollars to educate their children. The initiative would effectively redefine vouchers, which have typically helped lower-income public-school students pay for private schools. Vouchers could now also be used by students to pay for state-approved apprenticeships at local businesses, as well as college courses and private online classes, while they are still enrolled in public schools. The legislation would also pave the way for the rapid growth of charter schools—public schools run by non-government entities—and make Louisiana one of a handful of states to adopt a “parent trigger” provision, letting parents vote to convert their low-performing schools into charters. The Louisiana Legislature passed the sweeping education package last week, and Jindal hopes to sign it into law next week, a spokesman says. School vouchers are one of the most contentious issues in public education. Nineteen states and Washington, D.C., have either instituted voucher systems or “scholarship” programs that provide tax benefits to individuals and businesses for contributions that help pay for students to attend private school. The vast majority of these programs are targeted at specific groups of at-risk students, such as those from low-income households or with special needs. Read the full article here. (Subscription may be required.)