Voucher debate focuses on choices, funding

PROVO — In a debate over school vouchers Thursday morning at the Provo City Library, a proponent and opponent of the issue facing Utah schools tossed up examples of government services to support their for-and-against arguments.

Nancy Pomeroy, communications director for the Parents for Choice, a pro-voucher group, said food stamp recipients choose the stores at which they'd like to spend them. Medicare patients also are not forced to visit government-owned hospitals or pharmacies.

And parents, she said, should have the right to decide if they want to send their children to the neighborhood public school or a charter or private school.

But Utah Education Association President Kim Campbell countered with this analogy: public safety. Police protection is provided to all citizens. If someone wants more security, they can hire a guard or install an alarm system. But government, she said, doesn't subsidize additional security.

"Parents always have the right to choose a private school," Campbell said. "The question is who pays for that choice. And should tax dollars be used?"

Pomeroy and Campbell's debate before the Women's Legislative Council of Utah County was held just a day after the end of this year's legislative session. About 50 people attended the topical debate.

During this year's session, the Utah Legislature passed the Parents for Choice in Education Act, which will provide $9.2 million for parents who want to send their children to private schools.

As a result of the legislation, Utah parents can qualify for vouchers of $500-$3,000 for private school tuition for their children, based on family size and income.

The money will come from the state's general fund, not the Uniform School Fund, which is for public elementary and secondary schools and state-supported higher education institutions.

Private schools are not subject to the testing and regulations of No Child Left Behind, a federal education act. NCLB aims to ensure all children learn the state curriculum in math, reading and science, Campbell noted.

But private schools are accountable because parents "vote with their feet," Pomeroy said. "Are you really going to keep your child in a private school if you're not getting returns? No."

Pomeroy denied that her group is "anti-public school" and believes public schools will strengthen by competition with private schools.

Campbell believes the state should invest in projects that peer-reviewed research shows are successful, such as class-size reduction, increased technology in classrooms and higher salaries to attract and retain teachers.

"We want to provide the kind of reforms in education that we know work," she said.

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com