Earlier this month, Michele Bachmann introduced H.R. 4311 which she has dubbed the "School Choice for Foster Kids Act". Her press release, accompanied by photo-op, touts this as a bipartisan piece of legislation. While that may technically be true, given that ONE of the bills 27 co-sponsors is a Democrat, it does not speak highly of her definition of bipartisan.
A BILL
To authorize States to use funds provided for the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program to provide vouchers to cover tuition costs at private schools, and transportation costs to and from public schools, of foster children of all ages. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `School Choice for Foster Kids Act'.
SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF STATES TO USE FUNDS PROVIDED FOR THE CHAFEE FOSTER CARE INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE VOUCHERS TO COVER TUITION COSTS AT PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO AND FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OF FOSTER CHILDREN OF ALL AGES.
Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(6), by inserting `and to make available vouchers for tuition costs at private schools and transportation costs to and from public schools, to youths in foster care regardless of their age' before the period;
(2) in subsection (h)(2), by striking all that follows `vouchers' and inserting `as provided in subsection (i).'; and
(3) in subsection (i), by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs (6) and (7), respectively, and inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
`(5) Vouchers under the program may be available to youths in foster care, regardless of age, for the cost of tuition at a private school offering elementary or secondary education, or the cost of transportation to and from a public school offering such education.'.
1. Apart from the obvious backdoor attempt at instituting school vouchers throughout the United States, it appears as though Bachmann is expanding the reach of a program not meant to provide school choice, but rather to help transition older foster children from school to adulthood.
The John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) offers assistance to help current and former foster care youths achieve self-sufficiency. Grants are offered to States who submit a plan to assist youth in a wide variety of areas designed to support a successful transition to adulthood.
Bachmann and her group of cosponsors don't seem to understand the purpose of this program and despite their rhetoric about local control are adding a whole new level of government bureaucracy to a program not set up to determine who should get funds to switch schools or to transport. To top it off, the McKinney-Vento Act does ostensibly the same thing that this legislation purports to accomplish. So, a second level of bureaucracy to a program not meant for this purpose with a similar program already in existence? What possible reason would we need such a bill?
2. The budget for this program is a paltry $140 million per year. Unfortunately, Bachmann has not provided any new funding for this increased role she has carved out for the program. If Bachmann truly wanted to pass this legislation and assist foster children, she would couple this legislation with adequate funding. Is this simply an election year ploy to show her constituents how much she cares about children and their education? It seems that we have another case of lip service over results. If you are going to tout this program as your contribution to the education of foster children, are you also going to tell people you forgot to add the funds to pay for it?
3. So, what is the agenda? The difference between the McKinney-Vento Act and this one is that Bachmann and her cosponsors have added private schooling to the mix. This appears to be an attempt to give increased parental rights to a group that does not currently have complete parental rights. While I am by no means an expert in the rights of foster parents throughout the country, this bill appears to overstep the bounds of many state laws which restrict the ability of foster parents in choosing where their foster kids are educated.
So, beyond any argument about school vouchers, Bachmann is expanding a federal government program, forgetting to provide it with the funds to accomplish its new mission, and circumventing the laws of states across the country that restrict the rights of foster parents in making education decisions for their foster child. So much for small government and local control!
Cross Posted on Dump Bachmann
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