Education

  Education:  Government should not be in the business of educating children.  Government should not be allowed to hold a monopoly on education, forcing those who cannot afford private education to accept the low quality government monopoly schools. Children of poor families should have the same opportunity to compete for quality, private education as children of more affluent families.

 That said, there is a place for government to finance education, thereby providing equal opportunity to all.

 The basic responsibility for educating children rests with the parents or guardians of each child.  Parents or guardians should have the right to choose which school their child will attend. 

The responsibility for funding a basic level of education for each child rests with the state government through the individual local school districts.  A voucher system should be established to pay directly to each school an equal amount for each student enrolled.  Existing public schools should compete with other public schools as well as privately operated schools for student enrollment.

Each individual school has the right to set standards and select students.  The state and individual school districts should set minimum standards of academic achievement for all schools.  Each school district should be responsible to provide the number of schools necessary that will accept any student.  If private operators are not available, then the school district should operate these schools.

Transportation to and from schools may be funded as a separate part of the voucher system.  Private transportation companies should be encouraged to provide this service.  Parents who choose to deliver their children to school may direct that transportation vouchers be used for additional educational opportunities, extra curricular activities or additional school tuition.