By all means, school finance is a tricky matter. If School A loses 50 students, along with money “following the child” to a private school or another public school, then School A is likely to feel a crunch….or its district will feel a crunch. At the same time, if School A were to lose 200 students, then maybe its district could close the school and save money….that’s where a school choice plan, if it drew students out of a given school at that large a number, might have the effect of saving a public school district money.

Generally, in the same way Will Folks and others say we have too many small school districts, smaller schools also cost more to run. Of course, there are problems associated with “mega-schools” (and mega-districts, if you ask me), too, and some parents and educators think small schools are the best model.

But, anyway, yeah — Jim Rex’s plan likely would have created some headaches and financial issues for a number of public school districts. I never said I was wild about his plan — only that I think it would have spoken to your comment that your child’s district wouldn’t have granted a transfer.

I just am not a fan of PPIC and version of private “school choice” I’ve heard touted most strongly in South Carolina. Again, I think the proposal Jim Rex supported would have spoken to your family’s situation.

**”Red Bank Sucks” — Any school that does not properly teach reading has problems. I personally don’t see any reason NOT to use Social Studies topics as an entry-point for reading instruction. At the same time, if it’s confusing to the children and parents, then I can see where there could be a problem. I would hope parents’ complaints — if there are others with your concerns — will be taken seriously.

Meanwhile, Jim Rex supported a plan whereby your child would be admitted into another public school district. “Choice” advocate Mark Sanford opposed that plan. I’m not arguing that Rex’s plan was a cure-all, by any stretch….but I do think it may have very well addressed your situtation.

**”Its about time” — I think my argument is entirely valid. I admire your interest in seeing a policy even if it only “helps one child.” I could think of a lot of policy changes that might benefit individual children or families. But while it may be sad and frustrating, common sense tells us that broad public policy must align resources in a way that has the best chance of helping the most people — or those with the most need.

But, hey — I’ve said over and over that if we could come up with a voucher plan that’s (A) targeted on our neediest students, (B) guarantees entry into a solid private school, and (C) provides transportation for those who need it, then that might be great.

Of course, “Put Parents in Charge,” which Will Folks and SCRG and others have touted, does nothing of the sort. In fact, it doesn’t guarantee anything to the poorest families in our state — or those students with the greatest academic and behavioral challenges. So, from a practical standpoint, I don’t see a plan like PPIC as the best chance of improving and reforming education in South Carolina. (In other places, I have listed proposals that I DO think can work.)

And you mention this deal of public schools saving money when the “money follows the child.” But as I and others have explained many times, it isn’t that simple. For example, you suggest they’ll save transportation costs: Unless the kid going to a private school lives in the utter boonies, there isn’t much likelihood that the public school system will be able to delete or greatly alter a bus route. My guess is that very little-to-no money will be saved in the vast majority of cases.

Of course, since we’re on the topic of transportation….since the hypothetical student needs transportation, that’ll be a likely deal-breaker unless the private school or the $2,500 tax credit (or scholarship or voucher….) comes with money to provide transportation.

You’re right…I wasn’t clear. The freakin’ school QUIT TEACHING READING, instead focusing on Social Studies as a substitute, “pulling” reading skills by studying Social Studies.

Does that really sound like a sound doctrine to you? I never finished college, but I can hold my own intellectually, because I read constantly. Damn near all I learned after high school came from self-study and reading.

My daughter, in her second year of private school, reads better, and enjoys reading, since it’s a subject on its own, not clumped together with Social Studies with a confusing system of two letter grades.

Your child being in a good school, accents my point, it doesn’t negate it. You have a great school system, I don’t. So, I’m screwed, you’re not, and I can’t transfer her to another district, the Board will turn me down flat. I’m trapped, and as such, I want some of my money back to offset the failures that I’m rectifying in private school.

My point remains valid, however….unless the school you attended was in the county where I live. The fact that “there is such A place” in SC doesn’t do a darn thing for kids who don’t live in that community.