Answer

State and Local Government

Question 1

The choice of a learning institution often subjects parents to severe headache, as they always want the best for their children. They have to make decisions that will align with their goals and objectives. In the wake of this dilemma, the parents have an opportunity to choose between public, private, and charter schools. Although the difference between these institutions may be minimal, it usually means much to parents who have ambitions for their kids. Among the considerations, that someone has to undertake, include the quality of education, the degree of cultural or social experience, and the financial requirements.

In this context, charter schools refer to the institutions that receive full funding from the government. Although the schools receive total funding by the taxpayers’ money, they operate autonomously and outside the traditional system of public schools governance. That is, once the schools are in operations, the students can shift from the public system, but the money follows them, although the state continues to manage the funds (Dynarski et al. 2). Besides, it is the responsibility of the charter school authorizers to ensure that the schools behave and operate according to the educational standards. Furthermore, because charter schools are free, they offer institutional hybrid, which means that like other traditional public schools, they cannot discriminate based on gender, race, or even disability. Therefore, because the government is responsible for their funding, these schools are accountable to the government body that authorizes their operation, whether state, county, or district.

In contrast, private school vouchers offer an opportunity to redirect public education resources into the private educational system. Although not all states provide vouchers, the program helps parents in choosing for their children the learning opportunities. They receive funds to assist in facilitating learning in private institutions. Despite their significance in helping the parents facilitate private tuition fees, the amount usually falls short of the total financial requirement, which means that the parents still have to make additional tuition fee payments. The voucher programs are in three different categories, which includes the traditional voucher programs, education savings account, and tax credit scholarships (Dynarski et al. 10). The latter form of voucher system entails the states providing tax credits to organizations or businesses who then donate money to scholarship organizations to help in funding the private schools’ tuition. 

Despite the differences between these sets of institutions, the primary questions remain on how impactful they are in terms of students’ performance and improvement in the quality of education. Notably, the school reforms have been with the sole intentions of improving public education through ab introduction of market forces, which helps in the stimulation of consumer choice and competition. In Louisiana, the vouchers have been very instrumental for the students despite research showing a mixed picture of effectiveness. The effectiveness of any educational program or policy depends on how effective it is in improving the students’ academic achievement (Mills et al. 3). According to the article, the effect of the vouchers in comparison to the students’ performance shows a positive to no correlation. That is, students who opt for the vouchers are well aware of their options, which make use the best of their understanding to choose what is best for them.

Notwithstanding, the school voucher system works to the advantage of the students in the sense that they can acquire education in their schools of choice as well as making it possible for the low-income parents to take their children to private schools. Furthermore, the competition that comes with the system makes the public schools better. Besides the voucher system, charter schools are essential in improving the educational standards of the country. They help in created an expanded array of opportunities for students, who can then make proper use of the taxes for the betterment of their education (Mills et al. 7). Moreover, the charter schools also provide healthy competition to the traditional education system, which then increases innovation, improved student performance, and minimizes racial or ethnic segregation. Therefore, the variety of education systems is for the ultimate good of the students’ learning because of the healthy competition.

Question 2

The last decade has been one of a great struggle for educational funding with most states cutting down since the Great Recession. The spending on public colleges and universities has been way below the historic standards irrespective of the increases lately witnessed. The funding through the past decade has thus witnessed a decline, which has caused severe challenges to the education system (Mitchell et al. n.p). The tuition has significantly increased as well as the quality of life in campuses reducing because of financial insufficiency. Prior to this predicament, campus education was thriving and offering exciting opportunities for students both from low-income families and from their wealthy counterparts. However, throughout the past decade, the policymakers have made college and university education less affordable and less accessible for most students with inadequate financial capacities.

Essentially, this has been a result of the slashing of higher education funds by the states, thereby raising the cost of attending public colleges. The change has been so drastic that most families are unable to keep up, making the education more stressful for the parents and the students alike. Many students are lamenting on the failure of the federal student aid and the tax credits to increase in response to the reduced state funding. Therefore, this has jeopardized most of the students’ prospects to afford a college education, which is a determinant to a successful life since it provides more opportunities (Mitchell et al. n.p). Furthermore, the type of work, the salary, and standard of living have a significant correlation with the education level.

Although the states are struggling to raise sufficient funds to help in funding the college and university education, they have to make proper policies that will secure the future of a brilliant and skilled labor force, which can propel the economy to the next level. There has to be a renewed commitment toward the provision of high quality and affordable public higher education for every qualified student. This is only a possibility through increasing revenues to the schools. Furthermore, through this initiative, the government and the states with build a stronger middle class and develop a pool of entrepreneurs necessary for steady economic growth. Since institutions must survive, the funding cuts subject them into making decisions that do not align well for the students and the education system, thereby necessitating intervention from the state and federal governments.

Interestingly, the future of the economy depends on the investments that the government puts in place today, which includes investments on nurturing the skills and talents of the young generation. The jobs will require the skills that these young people are to attain in colleges. People who can reason and be creative to find a solution to the economy’s problems. Therefore, sufficient public investment on higher education, whether college or university levels are essential in keeping the quality of education as well as making the tuition affordable. The states must then find a strategy to increase student aids, especially those who need it most. Through these, the states will develop a diverse workforce that is up to the task in a diversified and competitive job market (Mitchell et al. n.p). The competition is necessary for innovation since it helps in enhancing innovations, primarily with the growth of technology and increased globalization.

However, considering the loss that the higher institutions of learning have had to undergo in the past decade, there is much more consider that is critical in making the institutions have the global standards that they deserve as well as increase the quality of education. The policymakers must endeavour to make rational tax and budget decisions. Nevertheless, it is essential to note that most states are recovering well in terms of their revenues since the depths of the recession but are also facing budget pressures, which creates the need to reconsider other revenue sources. In contrast to the private institutions who depend on charitable donations and large endowments to run their financial projects, the public colleges and universities heavily rely on the state and the local tax revenue to support itself, a situation that makes the government liable for their support.

In conclusion, even though the states have been reinventing in higher education in the past few years, the resources are still below the levels that can help in supporting the financial needs of the institutions and the students. The shortage of funds has forced the institutions to cut on their staff as well as eliminate some programs in a bid to sail through the tough times. Besides, with the cuts in funding and the increase in tuition, the cost has had to shift from the states to the students that have subjected them to greater responsibility. These shifts have been very harmful to the students and families, especially those from the low-income backgrounds making it less likely for the students to attend the schools.