ALEC program to privatize schools seeming to fail in Wisconsin

[IndependentinWis]

Latest test scores in Wisconsin show that not only do private schools there not score as well on standardized testing as public schools, but they actually do worse. This is not what those who agree with ALEC about going to all private schools want to see. Many are already out with excuses and are whining the testing fails to see the improvements that they have made in the education process. These for profit schools get the same money that public schools do and are not required to meet any of the standards that public schools have to in Wisconsin. An interesting trick these schools do though makes me smile. All schools have a "count day". This day, usually in September, counts the children in your school and is the basis for your state aids. These private schools will take "problem" students and keep them until after the count, get the state aid and then say they can't handle the student and give them back to the public schools which have no choice but to take them. The private school gets to keep the state aid and the public school has to take the problem student with no money to pay for the student's needs. Cute, huh?

 

[Nestor2]

That's how some rightwingers get rich; they cheat.

 

[JuliefromOhio]

in Ohio, we had to drag those private schools to Court. they didn't want to be held accountable for how they're spending our tax dollars. of course, we can't relent for a second because even when publicly shamed, they'll revert back to their sleazy tactics.

 

[Figjam]

...the problem with education is that it is so "subjective". Doing poorly on standardized tests is not necessarily a function of a poor curriculum. Alternatively, good scores are not a sign of good teaching other than perhaps better test preparation.

...to me, primary/secondary and college education is a public function unless someone wants to have a truly private (read as fully funded by tuition) school for whatever reason, religion, business-specific, whatever.

...these "private" for-profit institutions that receive public funds just rub me the wrong way and see far too many opportunities for abuse...