Copyright© 1999 by School Services of California, Inc.
By The Way. . .
Voucher Initiative Withdrawn. The proposed attempt to put a voucher initiative on the March 2000 ballot has been withdrawn by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Tim Draper, since he was not happy with the Attorney General's title. The title and summary that had been given to the proposal indicated that parents would receive a $4,000 per pupil "payment" from state funds so that families could select either public or private schools. The title indicated that the initiative would be "public funding of private and religious schools."
Since Draper believed that the payments should be called a "scholarship" - and the title was fatal to their campaign plans - it is reported that he has withdrawn the voucher proposal. Fortunately for California, no voucher will be considered at the March 2000 election.
The connection for community colleges regarding any K-12 voucher proposal is Proposition 98 revenues. If a K-12 voucher program distributes Proposition 98 funds "off the top" this would have a negative impact on the Proposition 98 fund, thereby reducing the total amount of Proposition 98 dollars available to be split between K-12 and community colleges. However, if the distribution of voucher funds are made to parents from the K-12 portion of the budget after the Proposition 98 split has been made, there would be no fiscal impact on community colleges.
In our view, any voucher proposal that diverts funds out of the K-14 system is damaging to both K-12 and community colleges. You can count on the K-12 system advocating for the allocation of any voucher costs "off the top" of Proposition 98 funds which would force community colleges to share in the cost. Another reminder that we are all in this together as part of the public school system.