Scholarship Plan Offers Substitute To “Race To The Top” (NAPSA)—While 11 states and the District of Columbia divvy up $4.35 billion in Race to the Top funds to attempt to fix the nation’s public schools, a new proposal is being floated to use the same amount of moneyto offer students a chance to attend the school of their choice. Known as “Passport Scholarships,” the plan would create a similar $4 billion fund in unspent federal stimulus dollars andallocate it to all 50 states to create scholarship programs to award children tuition grants to attend a school that best meets their needs. The idea is one lob, low a senior fel- with Available Per Year California The Noe ew yore Jersey Texas Educational lon, Choice. The plan [Minnesota Pennsylvania is an alternative Washington to the current school choice, a Passport Scholarship model will yield more parental satisfaction and better student outcomes.” Gottlob said he would divide the $4 billion among states based on population. The 12 largest states offering Passport Scholarships would see annual budget savings in their state budgets alone ranging TOTAL from $24.3 million in Georgia to (millions) $118.8 $60.1 $26.5 $31.7 California. The U.S. Department of Education has al- ee $28.3 $53.8 federal stimulus funds for Race to TOTAL # i Schola Scholarships na Foundation for [Michigan . education programs or giving kids The 12 Biggest Winners penned by economist Brian Gott- “State budgets are in a real pinch right now and they certainly could use the savings,” Gottlob said. “If it comes down to pouring more moneyinto untested [North Carolina Florida Race to the Top Georgia 52,791 Oe ; 14,102 35,193 15,849 7,232 16,878 5878 12,581 23,917 13,652 “Awards er Year $79.2 $35.7 $16.3 $166.1 million in . . ready drawn $4.35 billion in the Top. Federal education offiFederal Funding Years 1-4 and $2,250 have drawn head- (Assumes cials have said Scholarship Value; State Funding Starts in Year 5) lines nationwide. @ they would like “Race to the Congress to Top may just turn out to be appropriate another round of another big fat check toward more stimulus funds for the program. of the same education spending Instead, Enlow said, the Passport that does nothing to help stu- Scholarship concept would be a dents,” said Robert Enlow, presi- much more effective use of federal dent and CEO of The Foundation dollars. for Educational Choice. “Why not “While states are trotting out use the moneyto do somethingdif- ideas such as grading teachers ferent? Give parents more power. and other accountability programs, in the long run they will do Give them school choice.” Under Gottlob’s proposal, as little to move the needle when it many as 630,000 students could comes to improving student earn scholarships over five years. It achievement,” Enlow said. “Use would help save states as much as Race to the Top funds for scholar$1 to $1.6 billion annually as chilships and you will see much dren transfer to private schools. quicker improvement. Kids will This is based on scholarship get a chance at a better education awards of about $2,000 to $2,250 immediately. Not maybe, or in per student, under Gottlob’s plan. ‘due time,’ but immediately.” proposals that $30.7
