VOUCHER EDUCATION GAINING STEAM 

Some 2,000 families in British Columbia have taken their kids out of school to educate at home. Japan has cut back 40 percent on enrollment at teacher training schools. And the Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled education unconstitutional under the state charter. Previous columns have described modern schooling provided by companies varying from Apple Computers and General Motors to McDonald's University. Paper production staff at Weyerhaeuser Canada in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, now spend one full day a week learning. I think that before the start of the Third Millennium all successful companies will have their own school. And here is more -- good or bad depending on your personal views.

The Independance Institute, through the Colorado Action Center has initiated a massive drive to change the educational system by the issuance of vouchers. Vouchers that cover a child's education with parents paying the bill directly to the school or educational operation of their choice. If proposed legislation passes, vouchers would be distributed for that purpose.

Although it appears unknown to most teachers and school boards, more than 50 percent of all monies spent on education in North America are now spent outside the public education system. Events across the continent show strong dissatisfaction with the present system and a strong movement, at the grass roots level, to change it ... and to change it dramatically. Here is the latest from Colorado.

TEXT: PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION "CHOICE FOR SCHOOL REFORM"

Be it enacted by the people of the State of Colorado:

Article IX of the Constitution of the State of Colorado is hereby amended by the addition of the following new sections:

Section A. The provisions of Section 34 of Article V, and Section 7 of Article IX of this Constitution notwithstanding, the General Assembly shall provide by law that, to be effective with the 1992-93 school year, all state monies appropriated for general fund support of education, including those for the equalization of property taxes, in the elementary and secondary schools shall be apportioned among all Colorado students, and that the value of each individual share of such apportionment, in the form of a voucher, shall be under the control of each student's parent or guardian. The express object of such apportionment is to afford said parents or guardian maximum opportunity to choose appropriate educational services from among the various resources available, including public schools (which may accept the voucher and redeem its value from the state), as provided by law. No district shall be required to accept students from without the district in excess of a reasonable capacity, as determined by the directors, to provide that quality of educational services which is the object of this amendment. Nothing in this section shall impute to any state agency any authority over the educational programs of non-public schools.

Section B. In carrying out their duties under Section 15 of this Article ix, directors shall, effective with the 1992-93 school year, provide for the election of a board of supervisors for each public school, a majority of whom shall be parents or students in such school, and shall delegate to such board plenary powers for the management of educational programs in such individual school, including but not limited to the employment of principals and teachers responsible to such supervisors, terms of employment for all employees, courses of instruction, and such other programs and rules as shall be deemed necessary by the supervisors. Such powers shall not be delegated by the board of supervisors to any other board, authority or association. The General Assembly shall provide by law for the efficient coordination of these provisions with Section A, of this amendment.

Proponent: The Colorado Action Center, Inc. March 6, 1990.

The proposal calls for this to be on their November, 1990 state ballot. Such vouchers would be similar to those issued under the U.S. G.I. Bill for returning war veterans in the past. Hugh Fowler, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee during the 1970s, is leading this drive. He says, "Now the time is right. People are fed up and angry -- and they are ready for this kind of basic change in the way we organize and run our schools."

More information: Hugh C. Fowler, Executive Director, Independence Institute/Colorado Action Center, Suite 101-14142 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401.

Phone: 303/279-6536.

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