Unconcerned in St. Louis

From Missourinet:

St. Louis Teachers Union President Mary Armstrong objects to considering voucher and scholarship bills when the state hasn't fully funded the school Foundation Formula. Armstrong told Senators she's very concerned about the bills taking money away from the school district.

"We will be assisting a small number of students," Armstrong testified, "But we will leave a majority of students behind."

Yet, parents of autistic children say their children are being left behind in public schools.

Shari Kaminsky of Kirkwood says her profoundly autistic child couldn't learn in public schools, but did in a private one.

"My 12-year-old now is learning to read," Kaminsky told the committee.

Both bills would provide funding to transfer a developmentally disabled child to either another public school or a private one. One, SB770, would allow state funding to follow the child to the school of his parent's choice. The other, SB993, would establish tax credits to create a scholarship program. The scholarships would pay for private schooling.

Perhaps the words of Mary Armstrong have been instrumental in both Representatives Margaret Donnelly and Joan Bray of St. Louis pushing this bill quietly into the “no” bin.

Union president Armstrong admits that this bill will help children, and that’s the crux of the issue. Then, she admits that we are leaving a majority of children behind. I’m sure the St. Louis teachers union could drum up the support to expand the bill to include all children, if Armstrong is so concerned.

As to her point that this bill will take money from the public schools, the answer is a resounding NO. In fact, if you look at the 5 other states with choice for special needs students, we find that they save money, because tuition at private schools is by and large less expensive than state per-pupil costs. You can find more stats on that phenomenon here.

Now, with Mary Armstrong’s fears mitigated, we can focus on the real issue: Shari Kaminsky and her child. If she is unhappy with the education her child is receiving, why would legislators refuse to let her seek out a school that can help her child learn to read? Why would Reps Donnelly and Bray seek to protect the teachers unions instead of the children Missouri is obligated to educate and care for?

If you’d like to call and ask yourself, you can reach Rep. Joan Bray at (573) 751-2514 and Margaret Donnelly at (573) 751-0100.