June 2023 Outlook

June 2023 | Number 486

While NAEP Scores Plunge, Catholic School Scores Stay Flat

In an all too familiar refrain, new test score data from National Assessment of Academic Progress (NAEP), also known as the "Nation's Report Card," shows distressing levels of decline in reading and math for 13-year-olds.

As described by The74:

The numbers are truly dire: In reading, average scores have declined to levels last seen in the 1970s, erasing decades of progress won through political blood, sweat, tears — and billions in public investments. But the scores among the most disadvantaged students are even more shocking. Those in the bottom quarter of achievement are less proficient in reading than similar-aged peers were in 1971, posting the lowest scores ever recorded. In math, the bottom 10% students are back to their all-time low. Although racial breakdowns are not available for earlier years, the gap between Black and white students has grown markedly over the past decade. Not only has average achievement posted a record decline, but the effects have been concentrated among the most at-risk students.

Private school participation was not high enough for private school scores to be reported, however Catholic school participation was sufficiently high, and there the scores told a different story. Catholic school scores remained basically flat, with the changes being not statistically significant.

Food for thought as more and more states consider school choice.

Oklahoma Panel Approves Nation's First Religious Charter

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board has approved the nation's first religious charter school by a 3-2 vote. The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa plan to open the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School to K-12 students in the fall of 2024.

Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court has declined to take up a case that had the potential to decide whether charters should be considered private or public schools. Some supporters of religious charters believe that they are constitutional because charter schools are not really public schools. The Supreme Court declined to answer that question at this time, leaving in place a lower court decision which ruled that charters are in fact public schools.

Several school choice supporters have raised the question of whether religious charters are a wise idea, separate from the matter of constitutionality.

Implementing ESAs

The Manhattan Institute has released a helpful report from Nicole Stelle Garnett and Michael McShane on the important subject of ESA implementation.

Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Utah, and West Virginia have approved universal or near-universal education savings account programs. But as the authors say in an accompanying piece in The74:

The history of education reform is littered with programs that were announced with great fanfare, only to fall apart because of a failure to attend to the crucially important challenge of implementation. Legislation is simply words on a page. It is the administration of these programs, and tens of thousands of private decisions by would-be participants — families, schools, other providers — that determine whether they succeed or fail.

The reports focuses on five key priorities:

First, parents must be informed about their options. Second, schools and other providers must prepare for, and respond effectively to, the opportunities and challenges provided by ESAs. Third, regulators must thoughtfully and deliberately address the need for effective program regulations. Fourth, program administrators must establish effective operational policies and procedures. Fifth, states and public-interest legal advocates must prepare for legal challenges.

Garnett and McShane wisely warn against those who would focus on "accountability" over functionality. Read the whole report here.

Litigation over Arkansas School Choice Program Continues

Arkansas is one of those states with a new ESA program, however its implementation is being hampered by litigation.

According to the Arkansas Advocate:

A Pulaski County judge has again struck down the emergency clause of the LEARNS Act, halting implementation of the governor’s signature education law for a second time.

Judge Herbert Wright issued an order Friday that states the law’s emergency clause was not enacted pursuant to the Arkansas Constitution, which requires a separate roll-call vote garnering a two-thirds majority.

In Friday’s ruling, Wright said video and testimony presented at a June 20 hearing clearly show that the bill and emergency clause were not voted on separately in either chamber; therefore, the emergency clause had not been constitutionally passed when the legislation was delivered to the governor.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin quickly promised an appeal to the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Wisconsin Expands School Choice Programs

From the Wall Street Journal:

This month lawmakers passed a bill raising the per-pupil scholarship amount for the state’s three main voucher programs. Scholarships for students in K-8 schools will increase 13% to $9,499. High school scholarships grow more than 30% to about $12,000 per student.

Based on a survey of school leaders with School Choice Wisconsin last year, WILL [the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty] estimates that at least 18,000—and likely thousands more—voucher seats could be created thanks to the larger scholarships.

A recent WMC Foundation poll found that 59% of Wisconsin’s likely voters support narrowing the funding gap between vouchers and district-school spending, and support rises to 66% among households with school-age children.

Ohio to Expand Scholarship Program

According to the Columbus Dispatch:

Ohio lawmakers reached a deal on the state budget Friday, deciding how to spend nearly $190 billion over the next two fiscal years.

All Ohio school children will be eligible for a school voucher, but how much those EdChoice scholarships are worth will depend on family income. Children whose families earn up 450% of federal poverty will be able to get a full EdChoice scholarship to help them cover the cost of attending private schools. Students whose families earn more will be able to get smaller scholarships. That's a 77% increase ($825 million) over current voucher spending.

Ohio CAPE leader Eric “Yitz” Frank said in a statement:

HB33 includes the largest expansion of educational choice in the state’s history, making Ohio one of the country’s leaders in school choice. This legislation ensures that every family and student can choose the education that best meets their unique needs. We wish to thank Governor Mike DeWine and Senate President Matt Huffman for their strong leadership and commitment to education, putting students first by providing educational choice for all.