An Accountability Act

Governor Bentley had planned to sign the Accountability Act this afternoon (see the last post if you haven't read the news for a few days).  He proclaimed it to be a victory for Alabama's children and their parents.  The victory signing is on hold as the matter is tied up in a Montgomery County Circuit Court, which issued a temporary injunction preventing the bill from progressing to Governor Bentley's office for signing. If the Circuit Court makes the injunction final, the matter will be decided by the Alabama Supreme Court.  The legal question has nothing to do with the substance of the law, but rather the allegation that the procedure used in passing the law violated Alabama's sunshine law, which requires that certain governmental functions be done in full view of the public.

I don't know how that will turn out, but I suspect it is just a temporary bump in the road for the Accountability Act one way or the other.

I hope the Accountability Act, if it becomes law, turns out to be the great thing the Governor believes it to be.  My original opinion hasn't changed, in fact, my skepticism has grown.  On the other hand,  if it is the law of Alabama, I want it to work.

But, I cannot see how the Governor, or the legislature truly believes it is a victory.

It appears to me they have admitted defeat.

Some public schools are failing.  It seems the logical thing to do would be to address the problems at those schools with some intensity, additional resources,  perhaps with some of the innovation that was to be made available by the original "Flex" bill.

But the Governor and the legislature hoisted the white flag and surrendered, without consulting the people they appointed to handle such matters, and the people that are employed by the state to address such matters.

And turned the matter over to private schools, or other non failing public schools.

But, maybe it will work out.  I am serious about that. I hope it does.  There is more than one way to solve this problem.  Maybe this one will work better than what I would have proposed, if I had any knowledge at all of how to go about it.

And there is another bright side.

A real money making opportunity.

Hundreds of students in Anniston attend schools projected to be "failing."  Hundreds, maybe thousands of students in Huntsville and Madison County attend schools projected to be "failing."  Thousands of students in Birmingham, Bessemer and Jefferson County attend schools that are projected to be "failing."  Same for Mobile and Montgomery.  The act says that all those students have a right to go somewhere else, and get paid to do so.

Fewer students attend smaller failing schools in rural areas.  But they are scattered throughout the state.  Not close to any other schools, private or public. They have a right to go to a qualifying school.

Tens of thousands of students statewide, maybe closer to a hundred thousand, with a brand new right to a quality education, guaranteed by the State.

So, maybe it's time to get into the private school business.  The income is guaranteed by the State of Alabama.  Corporations are given huge tax breaks to contribute to the cause. Even more money.  And as far as I can tell the private school does not have to meet the same requirements as the public school:

But perhaps even sweeter is if you can get to be the administrator of the non-profit organizations set up to handle the contributions for the scholarships. An organization is required to pay ninety-five percent of receipts out in scholarships.  Five percent can be used to run the organization.  When corporations and individuals can get tax credits (not just puny deductions)  for contributions, the money could easily run into the millions pretty quickly. Five percent can be some pretty significant change.

So, the Accountability Act may work and it may be an economic benefit to many who have no students involved.

I'm still not quite sure who it is that is accountable.

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