What is going on out there?

[Stephen Bowen]

Any news on from the front on the choice wars?

[Judith Jones]

One form of school choice not allowed in Maine.
When the US Supreme Court decided the Zelman case a few years ago, it confirmed that a publicly-funded school choice program does not violate the "separation of church and state" provisions of the US constitution, as long as it is a true parental choice program. Efforts to allow public funds to follow students to religious schools in Maine have been negated by the Maine Supreme Court based on a 1982 law that prevents public funds going to religious schools under Maine's tradition of "tuitioning out" students.
A Bangor Daily News article of 7/2/08 reports that the Maine Supreme Court again held this position, in regard to town funds voted by the town for residents of Swan's Island. The family's lawyer suggests that the remaining approach would be to persuade the Legislature to change the law so that municipalities could allow tuition to follow students to public, private, and religious schools chosen by their parents.
Several states now have scholarship programs that allow parents to choose among public and private, including religious, schools: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Cleveland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Louisiana. These programs have passed with bi-partisan support; some are targeted to low-income families.
While many school choice advocates in Maine wish to preserve our traditional tuitioning out programs and to expand public school choice (through chartered public schools and inter-district choice, for example), not all would agree with adding religious schools to the mix of options. What do others think the advantages and disadvantages might be?
Judith from Hope

[Molly]

Hi,
I am new to the 'choice wars' but learned last night that a petition had been started by an Orland citizen to revoke the right of Orland students to choose. There is talk about sending it to vote. We desperately do not want to lose this right before consoldidation finalizes. About 33 students will be affected. My son was in tears last night thinking of his dreams and passions being contained and funneled by someone else's dollar value. My ten yr. old daughter said "they don't care about kids, they don't care about their dreams or passions-- they just care about money". I guess that about sums it up. If anyone from Orland area is on here with more info than I have, more info would greatly be appreciated. Also, any good arguments or strategies would also be helpful.

Molly