This week we had our initial referral meeting for an Independent Education Plan (IEP)/504 Plan for my son. On the same day, I received an email from our school system superintendent that administrators from another elementary school in our district had been indicted for an incident in 2024 where an autistic student was tied to a chair with a jump rope. Now, you might think that my first inclination is to pull my son out of public school and put him in private school. Especially since we are talking classroom intervention and modifications for my son. But you would be wrong. Instead, I felt very strongly to write my defense for the public school system.
Let's start with some fun, yet very conflicting information about me. I am a Christian, I believe in God and I believe in the Bible. I grew up in church and still go to church. In elementary through middle school, I went to a private Christian school that was also the church I attended (that my parents still attend) and then transferred to public school for high school. That change happened because I wanted to be a geneticist in eighth grade. I thought my cousin Jen was the coolest and she did cool things like that. I did not realize how much science and math would be involved in genetics and eventually learned I was much more a liberal arts degree kind of gal. I went on to get an undergraduate degree in English (FAR from math and science!) and found myself with a career in affordable housing. I now have a Master's in Public Administration (MPA) and both my husband and I are government employees. I am very much what you would call a bleeding heart. I work in welfare. I am a walking, talking Code of Federal Regulations for HUD programs. I am a nerd in so many different ways, but today, we are going to discuss the liberal, civic nerd side of me.
Last year, when we started noticing some of my son's struggles with school, I went to my favorite resource for all things education - my neighbor. Both of her sons are on the spectrum. She is an amazing advocate for them and kids on the spectrum and also started her own app. What I remember most from that conversation was this statement, "I would start with the public school. They can't turn you away, they have to help you." And that is the basis for this post.
During my MPA, I took an economics class that I wholeheartedly believe should be required for every adult to take before they are allowed to vote. And it explained the concept of public goods, market failures, and when government steps in. Public goods are those things that everyone benefits from and uses, you can't exclude people from using them, and one person using it doesn't stop someone else from using it. Because of this, it's not properly funded because you end up with a lot of free-riders that take advantage of the good. A market failure is when you can no longer pay for the thing that people need because without being able to exclude people, some are not paying for it and some are, which makes a poor overall outcome financially. At that point, the government steps in. Education is one of those things. We need for children to be educated because they are our future economy. At it's core, public education is a public good because everyone can use it. One child using the system does not preclude other children from benefitting from the same system, but because of economic differences, not everyone can pay the same amount for a good education. That gap is the market failure. Which is why the government provides funding for public education.
Now, let's get to the juicy part of this post. School choice vouchers are not a public good and, therefore, in my opinion, should not be subsidized by the government. I say that as a person that went to private school. I have friends that send their children to private school. I am in no way against your family's decision to send your children to private school. But public funding of private schools through school vouchers is not a public good. Private school don't have to take everyone and they are taking funds away, or are competing, with public schools.
Let's start with the "they don't have to take everyone" part. Most private schools have religious ties, so they have an application process to accept the student. They are private, so they are able to choose the students they want to accept. They want to teach their curriculum, which sometimes is based on religion, so they are particular about the students and families that they bring in. That is not a bad thing. They also don't want to have behavior issues and want to be considered a good school. None of these things are bad. But what they are not is inclusive. I'll add another layer to that. We chose to go through private testing for my son. I work in government, I know how slow moving a government system can be and I wanted to get things moving to give him the best chance for success. When I called the psychologist that was recommended by our pediatrician, they asked if we were at a public or private school. A private school requires full academic testing, but public school does not. We paid only for the ADHD testing, which was $1,500 out of pocket and is not covered by insurance. I don't know how much the full academic testing would cost out of pocket, but it's certainly more than what we already paid. The requirement for academic testing for private schools is not based on the initial finding from the ADHD testing, but a general requirement for all students that are in need of any testing. That's a barrier for a kid or family that needs extra help. That's a reason for a private school to not accept that student.
As stated before, I don't have an issue with school choice. I don't have a problem with parents choosing the school they decide is best for their child. But the private school, who can choose the students it accepts, is now providing competition for funding for public schools, which have to accept all students. A public good is one that if someone participates, it doesn't hinder someone else from participation. That is true for public school, but not the same for school choice vouchers. A school voucher competes with public school dollars. In 2024, our school district had massive issues when bus drivers and other school employees were given raises, but then subsequently those raises were taken back when it was determined there wasn't budget for a raise. Not only was the money supposed to be paid back, but they also changed how employees' years of service were counted, which, for public sector employees can be a huge change to your benefits and pay. North Carolina does not even have a state budget, currently. But the state put $625 million dollars (million!) into school choice vouchers for 2024-2025. That's money that does not go into the public school system and goes directly to schools that choose the students they want to accept.
Now, back to my morning this week. We met with the school principal, school psychologist, the exceptional children (EC) coordinator and my son's teacher. My son's teacher has been in communication with me since the beginning of the school year regarding his learning and we have worked together to address multiple problems long before the testing and diagnosis. My son's first grade teacher was also a huge advocate and tutored him after school and helped teach him how to test better. During the meeting, his current teacher was able to give updates on progress he has made and the concerns we still have. The school psychologist was able to help us figure out how to meet my son's needs with intervention and modifications within the existing framework for a 504 Plan. Our next step is to have the 504 Plan meeting. Now, because I also work in government, I know we still have a ways to go. But everyone in that room was on the same team. My son having a 504 Plan does not preclude anyone else from having a 504 Plan, or an IEP, that needs it. Those teachers and school staff exist to support my son and other kids in the school system that need that assistance. And, honestly, we have been met with help and an eagerness to figure out how to make my son successful each time. But I am also advocating for him on a regular basis.
The child that was tied to a chair with a jump rope is in the same school system as my son. That child is on the spectrum. I have learned more about how to handle my son's ADHD diagnosis, what it involves and strategies for success, in the past two months than I knew possible. But I also had the resources to pay out of pocket to get my son tested. My husband and I have jobs that we can take the time for these meetings and appointments without fear of losing our jobs. I have a Master's degree and work in the government system, so I understand how things work. And we have so many people that are giving me advice and what pitfalls to avoid. I am able to maneuver around these barriers. And, if I wasn't, I also have the ability to put my child in a different school, if needed. But not every parent has that option. And our public schools' budgets are continuously getting cut, our teachers aren't paid enough, and there isn't training and support needed for teachers and other resource staff. But they continue to take all the kids. They continue to complete IEP and 504 Plans for all students that need them. Because that is a public good and that is what the government does. But competing with that public good is the private school market (which is not a market failure). And we keep voting for it or voting for people that support giving public dollars to a private market and the vulnerable kids are the ones that pay the price. These are the same kids, that without intervention, might need government assistance later. Government assistance that costs dollars that our current government system, much less one when our kids are adults, doesn't have. Preparing kids, providing support in the early and formative years, especially the vulnerable kids, is one of the easiest ways we can help them be successful adults. Successful adults drive a prosperous economy.
For those that take advantage of the school choice vouchers, I don't blame you. You should take advantage of opportunities to help your family financially. But in terms of good use of public funds, school choice vouchers do not fit the definition of a public good. While people are screaming about government debt, we are also supporting families that have the option and means to send their children to a different school, and were most likely already doing so, while the children of the families without those options and means suffer. Government spending should benefit the entire economy, which includes those that the market has failed.
