In the 2012-13 school year, hundreds of thousands of Louisiana families will have real educational options thanks to the statewide
expansion of the program that Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law in
April. Students from low-income
families that attend schools rated “C,” “D,” or “F” will be able to attend the
school of their parents’ choice.
The expanded voucher program, known as the Student
Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, is about providing real
educational options to families, since no student should be stuck in a
chronically poor-performing school.
But the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence is
not just about private schools; it’s about going to great schools—public or
private.
The Advocate
reported that the Zachary Community School District—an A-rated district—will
participate in the expanded program, providing 30 spots to voucher
students. In fact, Zachary is not only
an A-rated district, it’s also the top performing district in the state for
seven consecutive years.
Currently, the school district serves 4,925 students, of
which 44.9 percent are identified as minority students and 12.9 percent live in
poverty.
On why the school district plans on participating in the
program, Michelle Clayton, curriculum and instruction director said that
Zachary has the “staff and resources to make a difference for these kids.”
And this is not the first time that Zachary has helped
students outside their zip codes. After
Hurricane Katrina, the school district took in 300 students.
After all, voucher programs and the school choice movement
is about providing a quality education to students at public and private
schools.
- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG
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