The Wisconsin State Journal-An all-male charter school geared toward Madison's minority population is projected to cost as much as $28,000 per student when it opens in fall 2012, more than twice as much as another charter school expected to open this fall … The high cost results from the likelihood that Madison Prep will serve more low-income, non-English speaking and special education students.
The excuse used in the above article to double the price is the same excuse used to push privatization at just half the price of public schools. What gives?
Many have warned, including myself, that the sometimes half price savings of taxpayer money on charter and voucher schools is a not going to last for long. It looks like it didn’t take long to double the price?
The propaganda surrounding the move to private schools is only meant to reinforce the feeling of parental empowerment while increasing the cost per student. Once parents are sold on the idea, privateers will have an easier time justifying major tuition increases. The rarely uttered concept of K12 “savings accounts” will slowly work its way into the movement. Parents will have to save up for any tuition amounts over the taxpayer contribution. It’s the free market.
Conservatives often point to the Swedish model despite the lack of any similarities. Unlike the version here, Sweden has a national curriculum, standardized tests for every school and forbids fees exceeding taxpayer supported tuitions. These are all big government no-no’s in right wing world. So what you’ll get is a profit driven education system.
If you’re okay with that, then you are either a selfish childless adult, or a really bad parent.
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