Superintendents speak out on privatization, grading schools
School superintendents oppose any plan that would use public money to support private K-12 education, and warned legislators Tuesday that privatization would set up a two-tiered education system based on class, both funded with taxpayer money.
Superintendents are united against a voucher or private school tax-credit plan, and see them as “the single greatest threat to public schools,” said Edward Pruden, Brunswick County superintendent.
“Whereas the old segregation was by race, the new segregation would be by socio-economic class,” Pruden said. “For those who desire the return of the segregation days of old, one is about as good as the other.”
Legislators are working on proposals to use public money to pay tuition for students who leave public schools, a fundamental change in the state that has so far stayed away from broad voucher programs. Legislators, public policy and advocacy groups have been laying the groundwork for such a move for a few years, and the idea is gaining traction.
About 65 superintendents attended a meeting called by House Republicans to give their opinions on proposed education policies and current laws, including a law requiring schools receive A-F letter grades as an indication of quality, based on their students’ test scores.
House Speaker Thom Tillis, who presided over the meeting in the House chamber, said legislators want to use educators’ expertise to make better laws. Principals are coming to Raleigh on