Comments on: School choice: Reports on Denmark, Netherlands and Sweden http://seekerblog.com/archives/20080409/school-choice-reports-on-denmark-netherlands-and-sweden/ Seeking reliable, objective sources on economics, foreign-policy and energy-policy issues. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:20:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Steve Darden http://seekerblog.com/archives/20080409/school-choice-reports-on-denmark-netherlands-and-sweden/#comment-23992 Steve Darden Tue, 06 May 2008 02:05:44 +0000 http://seekerblog.com/archives/20080409/school-choice-reports-on-denmark-netherlands-and-sweden/#comment-23992 <p> Theodora wrote: </p><p> <em>What I was trying to ask was whether you guys have a specific definiton of voucher system that is define according to your own nation's context or background that will make it different from other nations. Like for example, voucher system in Fiji is a threaten to the culture and to the solid foundation of their government. As in other country voucher system refer to parental choices and to the funds following the institutions that the kid is enrol... </em></p><p> Thanks <br />Theodora. M. </p><p> Steve replied: </p><p> Ah, I think I understand. </p><p> I don't think "voucher" is well-defined. The Netherlands voucher system is fairly close to the ideal definition: a child can attend the neighborhood-allocated public school, or take a voucher for the value of the average public school student. That voucher can be "spent" at any qualifying school. The qualifying private schools must meet all the same standards as the public schools. There is a challenging tradeoff to be made between standards and encouraging innovation. So far as I know, in the USA, there are only a few voucher experiments that are extremely restrictive. The value of the voucher, if you can get one, is a small fraction of the average per student cost -- like $1,500 vs. avg $15,000 spent by the public system per student.</p> Theodora wrote:

What I was trying to ask was whether you guys have a specific definiton of voucher system that is define according to your own nation’s context or background that will make it different from other nations. Like for example, voucher system in Fiji is a threaten to the culture and to the solid foundation of their government. As in other country voucher system refer to parental choices and to the funds following the institutions that the kid is enrol…

Thanks

Theodora. M.

Steve replied:

Ah, I think I understand.

I don’t think “voucher” is well-defined. The Netherlands voucher system is fairly close to the ideal definition: a child can attend the neighborhood-allocated public school, or take a voucher for the value of the average public school student. That voucher can be “spent” at any qualifying school. The qualifying private schools must meet all the same standards as the public schools. There is a challenging tradeoff to be made between standards and encouraging innovation.

So far as I know, in the USA, there are only a few voucher experiments that are extremely restrictive. The value of the voucher, if you can get one, is a small fraction of the average per student cost — like $1,500 vs. avg $15,000 spent by the public system per student.

]]> By: Steve Darden http://seekerblog.com/archives/20080409/school-choice-reports-on-denmark-netherlands-and-sweden/#comment-23991 Steve Darden Mon, 05 May 2008 22:41:11 +0000 http://seekerblog.com/archives/20080409/school-choice-reports-on-denmark-netherlands-and-sweden/#comment-23991 Theodora -- thanks for your question. Could you please expand a bit -- I'm not sure what you are looking for. Steve Theodora — thanks for your question. Could you please expand a bit — I’m not sure what you are looking for.

Steve

]]> By: theodora http://seekerblog.com/archives/20080409/school-choice-reports-on-denmark-netherlands-and-sweden/#comment-23953 theodora Sun, 04 May 2008 23:33:08 +0000 http://seekerblog.com/archives/20080409/school-choice-reports-on-denmark-netherlands-and-sweden/#comment-23953 hello, do you think you guys can help define the voucher system in accordance to your own nation's context which makes it differs from the worldwide perception. Looking forward to a favourable reply, Thanks, Theodora. M. hello,
do you think you guys can help define the voucher system in accordance to your own nation’s context which makes it differs from the worldwide perception.

Looking forward to a favourable reply,

Thanks,
Theodora. M.

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