Local groups want more than just traditional schools

The public education system is a pillar of American democracy — but questions are rising about the method of delivery.

The Cascade Policy Institute along with several local alternatives to public school are joining in the fifth annual National School Choice Week, which runs Friday, Jan. 23 to Saturday, Jan. 31, with a kickoff celebration in Jacksonville, Fla.

This year’s week boasts more than 11,000 independently organized events across the country.

Cascade’s Steve Buckstein, founder of the nonpartisan Portland think tank focused on libertarian values, says parents are increasingly demanding choice in their kid’s school, be it public, private, charter, online or homeschool.

“We are agnostic as to what people choose,” Buckstein says. “Most people have to go to the school in their zip code. We think that’s a bad way to run an education system.”

Buckstein says the Cascade Policy Institute helped bring charter schools to Oregon’s education system in 1999. This year, he hopes to get House Bill 2770 passed, which would establish an Oregon Empowerment Scholarship Program, giving a small subset of parents control over the money Oregon allocates to their children’s education.

Rep. Julie Parrish (R-West Linn) is sponsoring the bill in the House, along with several others centered around school choice. Parrish says she talks to families of children with disabilities who are outraged at being stuck in a public school system unable to meet their needs, while paying out-of-pocket for outside tutors and therapy programs.

“It is a very loud cry from parents where they just feel like their kids with disabilities are being shuttled through,” Parrish says. The representative argues that though the public has agreed to pay for every child’s education, the delivery system should be divorced from the payment.

“I know that we have 80,000 kids that are probably not getting the education that they need,” Parrish says, noting the number of Oregon children with an Individualized Education Plan, an indication of the need for extra help.

The bill would allow a small percentage of a district’s students — those either with disabilities or living below the poverty line — to withdraw from school and take the $6,861 (on average) state fund payment with them to pay for tutors, therapy, private school or any other educational needs.

Proponents of public schools argue that having a system for all children allows for conservation of resources and economies of scale.

Portland Public Schools public relations team declined to comment on this issue. Portland Association of Teachers did not return calls for comment by press time.

Responding to criticism that school choice relies on having parents with the education, income and free time to research and pursue those choices, Buckstein says he believes it’s just the opposite.

“School choice really benefits lower income people much more than upper income people,” he says, noting that wealthy families can move to any neighborhood they like and afford increased taxes for better schools there.

By contrast, Parrish says she talked to several families who were underwater on their mortgages — financially trapped in their neighborhood school even when it wasn’t a good fit.

Buckstein argues competition would be good for the education system.

In the current public schools system, he says, “Teachers get paid and the administrators get paid whether the kids learn or not.”

Events:

Cascade Policy Institute

"Policy Picnic"

Wed., Jan. 28, noon

4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd.

Suite #103, Portland

RSVP required.

Oregon Virtual Academy Southeast Portland

"Surf's Up for School Choice"

Jan. 30, 10:30 a.m.

Multnomah County Library, Midland Branch, Large Meeting Room, 805 SE 122nd Ave., Portland.

Oregon Virtual Academy Tualatin

"Surf's Up for School Choice" Event

Jan. 30, 1:30 p.m.

Tualatin Public Library, Community Room, 18878 SW Martinazzi Ave., Tualatin.

Sauvie Island Academy

"Savoring Sauvie"

Friday, Jan. 30, 8 a.m.

14445 NW Charlton Rd., Portland.

Free, student-made breakfast with live music and other celebrations. Tour of the academy's place-based, environmental program.

To RSVP to the breakfast, register at

www.sauvieislandacademy.org.

By Shasta Kearns Moore
Reporter
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