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* Dusty Rhodes has a good explanation of Gov. Rauner’s amendatory veto of a school funding reform trailer bill this week…
The trailer had received bipartisan support: unanimous in the House; 42-11 in the Senate. But Rauner’s veto letter says it doesn’t go far enough in providing school choice, and he wants to lower the standards to include private schools that haven’t yet received “recognition” from the Illinois State Board of Education.
Such “recognition” entails a thorough examination of a school, starting with a 17-page form that requires documentation of curriculum, anti-discrimination policies, teacher qualifications, staff background checks and other safety protocols — all confirmed by teams of ISBE investigators through multiple site visits.
Rauner wants to include private schools that are merely “registered” with ISBE, which is a more casual process. Registration means a school official completes a five-page form providing “assurances” regarding curriculum, safety, and other standards, but does not include a site visit. Schools lobbying for this change include Urban Prairie Waldorf School, Village Leadership Academy, and the nationally renowned Hales Franciscan High School — all located in Chicago. […]
State Sen. Andy Manar, the Bunker Hill Democrat who sponsored both the original school funding reform and the trailer bill, says that, if this concept had come up earlier in the process, this wrinkle might have been ironed out.
“I get it,” he said. “I mean, I understand the discrepancy here, but this is what happens when there isn’t a single public hearing about an idea like tax credits for private schools.”
* But there is support for Gov. Rauner’s AV among Democrats…
A West Side Democrat is urging fellow legislators to make the changes Gov. Bruce Rauner is seeking in a tax scholarship program for private schools, arguing that under the bill passed by the General Assembly “a lot of African-American schools are being cut out.” […]
Eventually a spokeswoman provided names of schools from the Illinois State Board of Education showing about 250 schools that weren’t recognized by the board in time to accept scholarships in the fall.
Eighteen of them were Roman Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago that didn’t get recognized in time because of a clerical error, and it’s uncertain when they will be eligible, said archdiocesan spokeswoman Anne Maselli.
“We are unsure at this point if those 18 schools will be able to participate in the tax credit scholarship program,” she said.
The archdiocese’s remaining 196 schools are already eligible for the program.
Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, said he has been fighting since last year to allow more time to let schools be recognized… “Hales Franciscan is a school that clearly should be on the list because they educate African-American males, and it’s a historic school. And that school is not part of the process. They can’t receive the donations,” Ford said “This law was supposed to be taking care of the families that need the scholarships most, and we find that a lot of African-American schools are being cut out. All of those schools were at the table so they were blindsided by the fact that they were not recognized and that they had to be in order to receive the benefits.”
* RGA…
Illinois Democrat gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker revealed yesterday once more how out-of-touch and unprepared he is for the political spotlight, arguing that an effort by Governor Bruce Rauner to give students in need more school options constitutes “political games.”
The State Journal-Register explains that Governor Rauner issued an amendatory veto on legislation this week in an attempt to fix issues in school funding legislation that “prevents three dozen private schools from participating in a new scholarship program.” Rauner’s plan is expected to provide $100 million in scholarships this year.
“Making this adjustment to this bill will maximize the number of schools eligible to participate, and therefore the number of students who may benefit,” Rauner said. “Inclusivity was the spirit of this legislation to begin with, and we simply must ensure that we follow through with the appropriate language to get the job done.”
But for billionaire Hyatt heir J.B. Pritzker, helping students trapped in failing schools is somehow objectionable. Pritzker is calling Rauner’s efforts to help students an example of “political games.”
Here’s the truth - J.B. Pritzker is the one playing political games by refusing to support better outcomes for students. It’s more evidence that Pritzker is not ready for primetime.
* But…
Gov’s veto says private schools CAN get funding WITHOUT:
1. a single ISBE sight visit to verify a functioning school actually exists
2. verifying that students who receive funding actually attend class
MEANWHILE, public schools wait for their state $. https://t.co/B5MfL0gf5g
— Andy Manar (@AndyManar) January 10, 2018
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:49 am
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why don’t they just go ahead and do the more thorough process? Is there some reason they wouldn’t pass that? If so, they shouldn’t be on the list. After all, even if you don’t contribute, it is still our tax dollars being used to fund this because of the ‘tax credit’ received.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:55 am
==All private schools should be off the list.==
…the whole purpose is to give underprivileged kids the opportunity to escape their failing public schools by moving into better performing private schools.
Comment by Political Animal Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 11:57 am
Since the number on the “list” seems to be very fluid, perhaps Rauner’s office could just post the list. 17, 18, 36, 250… which is it???
For me, if they aren’t recognized by the ISBE, they should not be eligible for the “scholarship”. And if the potential “funders” (AKA tax credit recipients) find that to be a problem, then they should push for their intended school to go through the recognition process. Otherwise, just donate the money directly to the school, and stop complainin’ because you won’t get a tax break.
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:04 pm
=…the whole purpose is to give underprivileged kids the opportunity to escape their failing public schools by moving into better performing private schools.=
Maybe you could provide some evidence of these better performing private schools?
To the post: Anon221 is correct- go through the process for recognition or you don’t get the money. Why would that be a problem?
Since these “private” schools are in line for some big paydays from the state will they now be required to follow all of the state mandates and ISBE rules like every other school that receives state money?
If not, I am hoping to get a lawsuit going.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:10 pm
CPS test scores are readily available at CPS.edu. The Chicago archdioceses has a picture of the over all test scores for all catholic schools based on their testing protocols. By any objective standards the Catholic schools in aggregate show much higher student achievement
https://schools.archchicago.org/elementary-schools
Comment by Texas Red Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:17 pm
When was the last Governor amendatory veto that got a vote (and passed) to agree with the veto from both chambers? Anyone know?
Comment by Kyle Hillman Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:38 pm
The real point to me is why did Bruce’s team screw this up in the first place. This add-on was their proposal right? Their language? So the GA gives him exactly what he asks for and because he asks for the wrong thing, he gets to AV the bill? Where’s the accountability? If I ask for X and they give me X but I really meant Y, then the remedy is a trailer bill to fill the hole I created, not scrapping the original bill. Amazing, someone needs to ask him who messed up the language inserted into the bill, his staff? the House Republicans? the Senate Republicans? THAT is the story here, someone’s (and you know who you are Capt. Carhart) legislative incompetence.
Comment by Undiscovered country Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:43 pm
== this is what happens when there isn’t a single public hearing about an idea like tax credits for private schools.” ==
Yep. Not even the proponents are ready for the roll out.
== Eighteen of them were Roman Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago that didn’t get recognized in time because of a clerical error ==
If it really just a clerical error, I would think that could be cleaned up with a second trailer bill or and ISBE rule change.
Rahm’s comments were on target…Rauner makes everything more complicated than it has to be.
Comment by Roman Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 12:55 pm
===By any objective standards the Catholic schools in aggregate show much higher student achievement===
The Catholic schools do not accommodate students with special needs. The Catholic schools serve low income students, but the overwhelming majority of students pay significant tuition.
But please, tell us more about your theories on education TR. It’s always enlightening.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:24 pm
=47th Ward -
the post asked ..”Maybe you could provide some evidence of these better performing private schools?”
and I provided it, no theories needed
Comment by Texas Red Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:26 pm
===The Catholic schools do not accommodate students with special needs.
47th Ward–they do some, but in a fairly limited way. Your point is still valid, but the Catholic schools deserve credit for what they do. That said, they couldn’t begin to deal with the degree of and complexity of many of the diagnoses in the CPS. 13 % have IEPs and that is almost certainly low due to many poor kids not having access to testing.
18 percent of students are ELL.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:32 pm
Its “site” visit, Andy. Site visit. The irony of a spelling/grammar mistake in a tweet about education is crushing me. I’m dead now.
Comment by A State Employee Guy Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:44 pm
=== The irony of a spelling/grammar mistake in a tweet===
It’s a tweet, for crying out loud.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 1:52 pm
Cool… My dream job of opening The West Suburban School for Wizards, Witchcraft, and Talented Basketball Players That Would Rather Not Go to Class could get funding under the governor’s proposed language. Works for me.
Comment by benniefly2 Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:09 pm
===and I provided it, no theories needed===
You provided some data, TR, and then called it evidence for better performing schools. But it isn’t evidence of that. You failed to control for certain special needs students, ESL students, and the above average socio-economic status of Catholic school students in Chicago.
If you compare apples to apples, I think you’ll find that Catholic schools perform about the same as public schools. But because Catholic schools choose their students, it skews the overall results leading the uninformed to believe Catholic schools are doing a better job when the choice of schools has very little to do with learning outcomes for upper income students who have no special needs.
Data is not a synonym for evidence.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:12 pm
It is worth noting That LaShawn Ford attended Catholic elementary school, Catholic High school, Catholic seminary, and a Catholic university. playing basketball I believe.
Also worth considering that the flaws in the trailer bill are atleast partly on Darlene Senger.
As for the “clerical error” at ISBE, i would love to know more. Seems if a mere clerical error by the state is preventing eligibility, there ought to be a judicial fix…paperwork can be deemed received by the courts but schools still have to meet the standards.
otherwise, pass a trailer bill that says the school only have to be “registered” provided they meet all of tha standards of being “recognized” prior to school opening in August.
also, lets include some language that says that extra-curricular sports activites cannot be a requirement or a consideration of the recruitment and awarding of the scholarships. We do not want schools using these funds to try to build their basketball and footbal teams.
Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:40 pm
At this point in time, if Rauner wants it, I’m against it.
Comment by Generic Drone Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 2:41 pm
@47th ward, Catholic schools choose their students? Huh? Upper income students? Huh? No special needs (I’d like to find that school).
Comment by Hmm Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 3:58 pm
Hmm, from the Archdiocesan Schools web page, and as Arch pundit helpfully clarified above, I stipulate that Chicago Catholic schools have come a long way in working with students with special needs, but it is more certainly NOT universal. Good luck finding the right school for your children.
“A number of Archdiocesan schools work to include students with various learning requirements. How those services are provided vary from school to school. The best way to determine if an Archdiocesan school is a good fit for a special needs child is to contact the school principal…”
I will also stipulate that Archdiocesan schools serve broadly across income groups, but not nearly as broadly as public schools. Many low-income students require scholarship assistance (the topic of the thread). The rest of us pay tuition. In fact, I paid more in pre-K through 2nd grade tuition for my children than I paid on college tuition for my undergraduate degree. I only have 8 more years of that before high school, which as you can guess, starts at about $12,000 per year.
So no, Catholic schools do not serve an exclusively upper income population, but it skews much higher than public schools, which was my point. Sorry that it was lost on you.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 4:12 pm
I’m a big fan of Chicago’s Catholic schools, went to one myself and sent my children to Catholic schools. The Archdiocese deserves credit for providing services to poor student, bilingual kids, and those with disabilities at level that few other private schools do.
But 47th Ward is absolutely correct. Comparing their student population to neighborhood CPS schools is comparing apples to oranges.
Comment by Roman Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 4:59 pm
@47th is absolutely correct. Parochial and private schools do choose their students. They set entry criteria and, without due process, they can deny enrollment at their discretion. So when TR and other allege that private/parochial schools as a group “out perform” public schools, well I just don’t. It it and you don’t have any evidence. Now, if you had data on a similar demographic you might have something.
I am also sure everyone will agree that publicly funded private schools should follow that same rules and refs as other publicly funded school. Right?
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jan 10, 18 @ 5:00 pm
Chicago’s Catholic schools do an amazing job considering they cost about half the amount to run that CPS does.
Comment by Ron Thursday, Jan 11, 18 @ 8:57 am