Frederick supervisors to discuss the legality of funding private schools.
The Frederick County Board of Supervisors is set to meet with legal counsel in a closed session on July 12 to discuss the possibility of using public money to fund private schools. The move comes after supervisors voted 6-1 in February 2022 to direct County Attorney Roderick Williams to develop an action plan to support alternatives to public education, such as homeschooling and private schools.
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Supervisor Shawn Graber (Back Creek) raised the issue during a recent board meeting, saying that members received an email from the county attorney in connection to “allowing this board to fund private schools, to assist in tuition [for] all of [the] students in our locality that would desire a private school over a public school education.”
The discussion has sparked controversy, with some residents and education advocates arguing that public funds should not be used to support private schools. Others, however, say that parents should have the right to choose the type of education their children receive and that public funds should be available to support that choice.
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The issue of public funding for private schools is not new. Several states have recently implemented voucher programs that allow parents to use public funds to pay for private school tuition. These programs have been controversial, with opponents arguing that they divert resources from public schools and undermine the public education system.
However, Proponents of voucher programs argue that they provide parents with more excellent choices and flexibility in education and can help improve academic outcomes for students struggling in public schools.
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The debate over public funding for private schools will likely continue in Frederick County and nationwide. As education continues to evolve and new schooling models emerge, policymakers and educators must grapple with allocating public resources best to support student learning and achievement.
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In the meantime, the Frederick County Board of Supervisors will continue to discuss the issue of public funding for private schools, hoping to arrive at a decision that reflects the needs and desires of the community.
