Vouchers would drain school funds

To the Editor:

Parents have always had the right to send their children to any school they choose.  
Vincent Grasso (“Vouchers can end the NEA monopoly” letter, Feb. 13) wants the taxpayers to provide vouchers to pay for the private schools that parents choose. School taxes are meant for the support of public schools.

A voucher-type plan being considered in New Jersey could cost taxpayers as much as $1 billion over five years. New Jersey public schools have already had their state funding slashed to balance the state budget. How can New Jersey now afford to pay for vouchers?

The current legislation sets aside up to $10 million a year for management fees for scholarships that would be used like vouchers. How many excellent teachers could be hired for that amount?

Twenty-five percent of the scholarship donations, which would earn matching state tax credits, would be set aside for those students already in private schools. How is that going to effect meaningful reform of the public schools, which is what Gov. Chris Christie says he aims to do?

The goal of New Jersey public schools must be to provide all children with the high-quality education they deserve. Diverting scarce public school tax dollars to private schools will seriously weaken public schools.

Ethel S. Combs