Attorney General No.

SA93RF0041

Secretary of State No.

625

Description

VOUCHERS. EDUCATION. STATE FUNDING OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Requires state-funded vouchers for all resident school-age children who enroll in qualifying private schools, including religious schools. Voucher amount increased for low-income and disabled children. Permits conversion of public schools to independent voucher-redeeming schools. For children previously enrolled in private schools, funds vouchers solely from program-generated savings. Restricts regulation of private schools, including independent voucher-redeeming schools. Calls for allocation of public school enrollments based primarily on parental choice. Requires academic testing in public and voucher-redeeming schools. Withholds vouchers from schools teaching hatred or advocating unlawful conduct. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Fiscal effect largely unknown, and depends on implementation and interpretation of measure and response to measure. Long-term state annual net costs of about $2 billion due to vouchers, testing, and administrative requirements. Short-term state annual net costs of about $1 billion. Potential costs to school districts in the tens of millions of dollars annually due to testing provisions. Capital outlay savings possibly in excess of $100 million annually for state and school districts after 10 to 20 years.

Proponents

Deborah C. Wright, P.O. Box 13314-199, Oakland, California 94611 (510) 339-0774

Date

1-13-1994

Document Type

Initiative

Qualified

Failed to Qualify

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