Legislative Advocacy Committee
Meeting Notes
Friday, September 23, 2011


1.   Introductions were made.

2.   A review of the role and purpose of the committee was provided.

3.   An updated on the Turner Case and the related Webster case was provided.

4.   The committee discussed the pros and cons of providing tax credits for families paying tuition to nonpublic religious affiliated schools.  See the attached notes for details of this discussion.

5.   Future Meeting Topics were generated.  These included:

a.   How can we help provisional and unaccredited school districts?
b.   School Funding
c.   NCLB - No Child Left Behind
d.   Drugs and Alcohol - Facts and actions
e.   How do we share information with the public
f.   How can we invest in schools?
 
Tax Credits for families paying tuition to attend nonpublic religious affiliated schools

Pros   Cons   Questions
Provides a greater choice for children in unaccredited school districts.  May cause fewer students to leave the unaccredited school district.

Fewer students moving to adjacent county

Students don't have to leave their home area

Less funds leaving the unaccredited school district   Option only available to those who can afford the 94% they have to pay to private school first.

Still pulls funding award from State

Does not address the revenue issues

The option does not exist in small outstate school districts not having private schools in their area

May exclude children with IEPs

One judge could decide the case   How do we get resources to lower income families

Does this improve schools for the students who remain in the unaccredited school district/

Is this an add-on vs. a true solution?

Is there a process for approving schools?  (Charter, nonpublic, etc.)  How does the state assure that children are going to a better place than their home district?  What quality monitoring system is in place to assure that state funds are providing children a quality education?