NYC Considers “Pay-to-Stay” Program to Bolster Private School Attendance as Families Flee

Edited by: TJVNews.com

A group of City Council members in New York City is proposing innovative legislation aimed at preventing families from fleeing the beleaguered public education system, as was reported by the New York Post.  Councilmen Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island), Kalman Yeger (D-Brooklyn), and their colleagues from the “Common Sense Caucus” are putting forward a bill that would explore the possibility of subsidizing parents who send their children to private schools, including Catholic, parochial, and yeshivas, the Post report added. The proposed “school choice” program could reimburse families up to $10,000 annually for tuition payments, potentially providing a lifeline for those struggling to afford private education.

The motivation behind this legislation is to address a growing trend of parents opting for private school alternatives due to concerns about the quality of public education. “We have seen parents flee the public school system and seek alternatives that they might not be able to afford,” stated Councilman Borelli, highlighting the urgency of the issue, according to the Post report.

The bill outlines a joint effort between the Department of Finance and the Department of Education to conduct a feasibility study on implementing such a program. The Post report indicated that the study will aim to determine how best to administer the initiative if it proves to be a viable solution. The legislation is set to be introduced at the Council’s meeting on September 14th.

However, implementing such a program would come at a significant cost, potentially exceeding $2 billion. According to data from the nonprofit Empire Center for Public Policy, there were 221,000 students enrolled in private schools in the city last year. As was indicated in the Post report, the bill aligns with the broader “school choice” movement, which earmarks public education funds for private schools selected by families. Several states, including Iowa, Illinois, Florida, and South Dakota, already have tax-credit scholarship initiatives and similar programs in place.

New York currently offers limited school-choice options through publicly funded but privately operated charter schools. However, the Post also reported that demand for such options often exceeds supply due to the city’s charter school cap of 275, prompting many parents to turn to private schools or consider relocating to areas with better public school options.

Councilman Borelli emphasized the potential benefits of creating a robust “school choice” network, stating that it would provide significant advantages for students, as was reported by the Post. Councilman Yeger echoed these sentiments, noting that parents need more educational options.

“Building a thriving ‘school choice’ network would bring great benefits for students,” Borrelli said, the Post reported.

The decline in public school enrollment over the past decade has raised many concerns. The city’s public school enrollment has dropped by more than 20%, from 1.1 million students to approximately 860,000, with a notable 17% decrease in kindergarten students citywide as compared to the 2016-17 academic year, the report added.

Both Councilmen Yeger and Borelli attributed much of this exodus from public schools to policies limiting education options implemented during the tenure of former Mayor Bill de Blasio and former Department of Education Chancellor Richard Carranza, as was noted in the Post report. However, they praised current DOE Chancellor David Banks for his efforts to address these challenges.

As the proposal moves forward, it remains to be seen how New York City will navigate the complex issue of subsidizing private education in the quest to retain and attract families in the public education system.