<p>From what they explain in the article and discussion here, this is a very exciting change in Louisiana! </p>
<p>The article states all the schools need to be state approved to receive any vouchers. So no matter how much the Reuters reporter dislikes those schools, they are “approved”. Given the school is acceptable to the state and qualifies for state moneys, then GMT said it right: LET THE PARENT CHOOSE. The parent knows the child and situation best and can best assess the various options.</p>
<p>Another point is that the vouchers at $8000 are not a full ride. The average spend on a public pupil may look like $8K but that excludes most of the cost of the public facility. But private schools still need land. So any private school that charges $8K tuition is going to have to be highly innovative to break even. Not impossible, but challenging.</p>
<p>Finally, one should not simply be satisfied with existing offerings. New companies will enter. Doubtless web sites will spring up to rate and assess the various new school choices. And people can build their own school if they want: a group of like-minded parents could band together and start something new, using the $8K per student funding. A group of parents did this in Massachsuetts recently without public money, so with public money it ought to be even easier. (See [Acera:</a> Elementary and Middle School for Gifted and Talented Students, Boston MA Area](<a href=“http://www.aceraschool.org/]Acera:”>http://www.aceraschool.org/))</p>
<p>Bottom line: innovation is broken in public K12 because all the money goes to districts and districts are slow and hobbled by rules and unions. Only by creating a market of individual choice and putting parents in charge can we finally have the breakthrough reform that the USA badly needs. </p>
<p>Congratulations to Louisiana for trying this and good luck!</p>