Story Outline

 

School Voucher Initiative Battle in California From a news story by CNN San Francisco Reporter Greg Lefevre November 30, 2000

I. California has a school initiative on the ballot.

A. It is proposition 38 and allows public school parents to choose.
B. Parents would get vouchers to pay the schools of their choice.
C. California pays $8,000 yearly per child in public schools.
D. If passed, each parent would get a $4,000 voucher per child.
E. The remaining $4,000 would go to the schools.

II. Chris Bertelli favors Proposition 38.

A. California education system isn’t doing well.
B. Math and reading scores rank 49th in the nation.
C. One-third of high school students won’t finish.
D. Bertelli says that is not a successful system.

III. Teachers’ unions and PTA’s oppose the voucher program.

A. AFL-CIO’s Amy Dean says that it’s a money grab.
B. Some say it’ll drain badly needed monies from schools.
C. State PTA’s say loss of funds will make it hard to improve schools.
D. The PTA says that vouchers will not be a good investment.

IV. There are many backers of Proposition 38.

A. Tim Draper says that failing schools should not be rewarded.
B. Draper feels that schools should be accountable.
C. Doris Limbrick says 38 would help poor families.
D. Many single parents can’t afford to choose good schools.

V. Catholic schools would be affected by the proposition.

A. The biggest private schools in California are Catholic.
B. Officially, the Catholic Church is neutral.
C. Some of the local churches support the measure.
D. It’s doubtful the measure will pass without their support.

 

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