"The Case Against Vouchers," is an article on the NEA (National Education Association) website, which clearly states their opposition to the voucher system. Positions like these are why the 2010 Education Next article on Special Education Vouchers says, vouchers have been the focal point "of intense, partisan disputes," and "have been threatened by legislative actions."
The controversy and debate surrounding vouchers has obscured a program for special needs children, which if managed correctly might revolutionize special education. Education Next describes them this way, "hardly known, originally noncontroversial voucher innovation, the special education voucher."
There are a myriad of motivations and agendas driving voucher support and criticism. The unfortunate casualty in all of this is the portability of education for those with special needs. This group has the greatest difficulty having their needs met by public or private education, so it makes sense for them to have as much mobility as possible.
I am only at the beginning of my research, but the name for this program in Florida is the "McKay Scholarship," a name I like because it removes voucher. The needs of special needs children are radically different than typical children. What is considered choice for typical children is in fact necessity for those with special needs. We should create scholarship programs providing maximum flexibility for special needs families to secure the best possible education and development for their children.
I envision a future where families with special needs children receive portable education, and can search for the perfect school to meet the needs of their children.
The controversy and debate surrounding vouchers has obscured a program for special needs children, which if managed correctly might revolutionize special education. Education Next describes them this way, "hardly known, originally noncontroversial voucher innovation, the special education voucher."
There are a myriad of motivations and agendas driving voucher support and criticism. The unfortunate casualty in all of this is the portability of education for those with special needs. This group has the greatest difficulty having their needs met by public or private education, so it makes sense for them to have as much mobility as possible.
I am only at the beginning of my research, but the name for this program in Florida is the "McKay Scholarship," a name I like because it removes voucher. The needs of special needs children are radically different than typical children. What is considered choice for typical children is in fact necessity for those with special needs. We should create scholarship programs providing maximum flexibility for special needs families to secure the best possible education and development for their children.
I envision a future where families with special needs children receive portable education, and can search for the perfect school to meet the needs of their children.