School choice support rally at the State House stirs up opposition

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

The controversy over school choice may be heating up.

Proponents of school choice rallied at the State House earlier this week — to urge lawmakers to pass a school choice bill. Now people who are opposed to the idea are speaking out.

Opponents of school choice say they’re not against choice. They’re against giving public money to private schools.

“We have school choice now. You can go to public schools that are funded by public money. Or you can go to private school that are funded by private money,” said former State Senator Hank Sanders.

He says the act of giving public money to private schools is an attack on public education. And it’s time to sound the alarm.

“It’s a dangerous thing when we take public funds to do private education. We’re talking about destroying public education. And I hope and pray that we do not do that.”

Sanders spent 35 years in the Alabama State Senate — 16 as the chair of the Finance and Taxation Education Committee. He says all of the funding for public education in the state — came through that committee.

“And I did everything within my power to always protect those public funds,” said Sanders.

Selma School Superintendent Dr. Zickeyous Byrd says school choice provides no accountability.

Public schools have state-mandated standards for education — teachers — and graduation.
And to take public resources away from public schools that fail to meet state standards — then give it to private schools that don’t have to meet any standards — doesn’t make sense.

“All of us should be accountable in making sure that we give our children everything that they need to be successful,” said Byrd.

“No standards for teachers, no standards for graduation, no standards for education whatsoever. It’s a way of destroying public education,” said Sanders.

The state legislature is expected to consider a school choice bill during this session.