Kerri Choate

I urge you to oppose this bill. This bill would require public schools to allow voucher students to take classes and participate in extra-curricular activities, with no requirement that they pay for these opportunities. One of the basic premises of the voucher program is that by taking a state-funded voucher, the student has opted out of public school and its benefits. Public schools do not receive adequacy for students not enrolled in their schools. The money instead goes to the school or the parents in which they are enrolled in the form of the voucher. Meaning public schools do not receive any funding for students receiving vouchers. In recent years they have sometimes participated in public school classes and activities, but only under terms agreed to by the school, which often include paying for the privilege.