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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

One Teacher's Perspective: Voucher Schools: Inherently Unequal

One Teacher's Perspective: Voucher Schools: Inherently Unequal:

Voucher Schools: Inherently Unequal

This week's take on the latest school voucher plans in Wisconsin comes from State Senator Tim Cullen.

Last week, I expressed my extreme disappointment when the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee voted along party lines to create a statewide unaccountable school voucher program.

Make no mistake – this plan creates two separate school systems in Wisconsin, both paid for by taxpayers.

In 1954, late Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Earl Warren said, “Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” His words hold true today.

While the agreement creates a 500-student cap during the program’s first year and a 1,000-student cap in subsequent years, the cap could be lifted in the future or may be line-item vetoed by the governor. The ultimate goal of voucher supporters is not to open the voucher program to 500 or 1,000 students, but an unrestricted expansion of vouchers.