Argument Against Proposition 38

LET'S FIX OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NOT ABANDON THEM

California's children need the best teachers, in small classrooms, teaching to high standards, in schools that are accountable.

But Prop. 38 will not achieve any of these goals.

Some of what you are about to read about Prop. 38 may seem incredible. But through error or some other motivation, the authors of Prop. 38 have opened up extraordinary loopholes that create a system of unaccountable voucher schools, while hurting the vast majority of kids who go to public schools.

The California State PTA says, "Prop. 38 will do nothing to improve our public schools but will hurt neighborhood schools by cutting their budget."

Prop. 38 gives parents whose kids are already in private schools $4000 to go to voucher schools, costing California taxpayers between $2-$3 billion per year. And where do you think that money will come from? Taxpayers.

But not one penny of the billions spent on Prop. 38 will be used to make our children's schools better.

Not every child will have access to this new system of voucher schools. That is because voucher schools will be able to reject students who apply based on their gender, their ability to pay and their academic and physical abilities.

Governor Gray Davis calls Prop. 38 "a risky proposition that will take money away from public education and erode accountability.

It's a major step backwards."

VOUCHER SCHOOLS ARE NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO TAXPAYERS

The California Business Roundtable says, "the full text of Prop. 38 virtually prohibits any real state or local regulation of voucher schools that make them accountable to taxpayers."

Voucher schools are not required to have their finances audited and can make decisions on how to spend our tax dollars in secret behind closed doors.

Prop. 38 gives taxpayers' money to voucher schools that are not accountable to the taxpayers.

California permits parents to home school their children, but under Prop. 38, this practice could now lead to fraud and abuse.

VOUCHER SCHOOLS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO MEET MEANINGFUL EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS

The California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin says, "Prop. 38 allows fly-by-night operators to open voucher schools and hire teachers without teaching credentials, without training and without experience educating children."

Prop. 38 will prevent the state from requiring any meaningful educational standards for voucher schools.

PROPOSITION 38 HURTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Prop. 38 is opposed by public and private educators because it will cut funding for public schools while raising tuition for children that already attend private and parochial schools. A private school cannot stay private if it takes public money.

Prop. 38 will not provide better teachers, smaller classrooms, high standards for our schools or accountability to taxpayers.

Prop. 38 . . . an expensive experiment our children can't afford.

Vote No on Prop. 38.

LAVONNE MCBROOM, President
California PTA
LOIS WELLINGTON, President
Congress of California Seniors
WAYNE JOHNSON, President
California Teachers Association