SCHOOL VOUCHERS ARE GAINING AROUND U.S.

School choice is becoming a battleground for dedicated parents across the United States. Dozens of states are moving forward with some form of vouchers or parental choice despite the doom-and-gloom naysayers who predict this will be the end to public education.

Oh, really?

Too many of American's public schools have racked up a miserable track record of declining test scores and deficient reading skills. Perhaps parental choice is just the kick in the pants those failing schools need to spur a genuine turnaround.

Florida became the latest to jump into the fray. On the final day of the legislative session, Sunshine State lawmakers approved a plan to give students in Florida's worst schools taxpayer-funded tuition payments. These students can then attend qualified public, private or religious schools.

Pending signature by Gov. Jeb Bush, this will become the first statewide voucher program in the country. Bush has promised to push even broader education reforms including provisions to end social promotion, raise teacher standards and reward high-performing schools. At last, accountability of public education is becoming fashionable.

One has to wonder: If his brother, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, gets to the White House, will vouchers start at the top?

Florida is certainly not alone. Over the past eight years, 14 states have accepted school-choice plans, and more than 20 more have considered them. Intra-district school choice options are offered in Boston, Seattle, Minneapolis, St. Paul and New York City, among others.

And what about public money for church schools? Unfortunately, rulings have been mixed. The U.S. Supreme Court let stand a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling last June to expand Milwaukee's voucher program to church-affiliated schools. But just last month the Maine Supreme Court denied an appeal by families who wanted to use public money to attend religious schools. Parents should have the choice to choose the school, whether it be secular or religious.

Under Florida's plan, the accountability falls smack on individual schools. Each school will be assigned a letter grade based on test scores, attendance, graduation rates and other factors. Students in schools that receive failing grades for two of every four years will be offered state vouchers worth $4,000 to attend another school.

Of course, school voucher programs are only as good as the plan. Bad programs can fail, just like bad schools. Only time will tell what works.

Will school vouchers spell the end of public education? Hardly. It may be the end for some bad schools. What it will do is force schools to shed the excuses and failures for pioneering ideas that really work. Public education needs to take a long look at the innovations of private schools and mimic the successes. True competition can lift up, not destroy, public education.