Daley emphasizes that the assets sold are not ''core competencies'' of the city government, such as public safety and education. Actually, what competencies are really ''core'' is debatable. Leasing -- privatizing -- some cities' school systems probably would make the systems more competent. Perhaps the moral of Chicago's story is that what government can shed, it should shed.Genius.
In related news, the Tribune has a series of editorials on school reform (tho count me out on raising taxes) and the Utah legislature is on the verge of passing universal school choice. South Carolina may be next. And public schools will come out financially ahead. John Fund, WSJ:
State Rep. Steve Urquhart, the bill's chief sponsor, says the breakthrough in winning House approval was the realization that it wouldn't harm public education. The bill stipulated that for five years after a voucher student left the public system, the district would get to keep much of the money the state had paid for his education. Given that the average district gets $3,500 from the state and the average voucher is expected to be $2,000, a typical school district would gain some $1,500 every time a student left its system.Mr. Urquhart was so confident of his math that he started an interactive Web site modeled after the interactive encyclopedia Wikipedia. He posted his bill on it and invited comments. Thousands of people logged on to www.politicopia.com and participated. "If anyone can show evidence (not just alarmist rhetoric) that public education does not come out financially ahead with this bill, post your arguments and data in the comment section," Mr. Urquhart challenged his readers. No one was able to effectively rebut him.
Give needy kids a new lease on life. We need real school choice. Let parents choose their kids' schools and improvements will follow overnight.
Previous posts: Outdated Education, Parents v. the Board of Ed, NCLB offers Charter Reform
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