THIS AND THAT FOR MAY

 VOUCHERS, RACE AND FAMILY INCOME, 
BORAH SCHOLARS

An Interesting Look at the Implementation of Vouchers

In an article for the Education Opportunity Network, Jeff Bryant provides some research and opinion about implementation in various states where legislatures have passed laws allowing vouchers. 

With the recent conversation in Idaho's legislature about rescinding the Blaine Amendment to the Idaho Constitution , Bryant's article seems timely. He writes, with citations:

"First, there is the issue of church and state separation. All research shows that most of the money voucher programs redirect from public schools to private institutions ends up going to religious schools. In D.C., 80 percent of voucher users attend religion-based private schools. North Carolina’s relatively new voucher program sends 93 percent of its money to “faith-based schools.”

Clearly, Bryant is opposed to the idea of vouchers. But so are the majority of American people. In the most recent Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll on education,  63% opposed vouchers.

Money, Race, and Success

From the outstanding New York Times research publication The Upshot comes an article about the results of a fascinating research study  showing the relationship among poverty, race, and educational achievement. In the interactive chart featured in the article, authors Motoko Rich, Amanda Cox, and Matthew Bloch allow readers to input a school district name and see how it compares to others across the country in terms of achievement and poverty.

Their findings:

• "Sixth graders in the richest school districts are four grade levels ahead of children in the poorest districts."
• "There are large gaps between white children and their black and hispanic classmates. The gaps are largest in places with large economic disparities."
• "Even in districts where white students and their minority classmates had similar socioeconomic backgrounds, academic gaps persisted."

William E. Borah Scholars Honored

Last week, Borah High School honored its 6 William E. Borah Scholars, their parents, and their teachers at a dinner at the Cottonwood Grill.

The six scholars (left to right) and their choices for college next year:

Mark Jerome, United States Military Academy at West Point
Hunter Inman, Gonzaga University
Phillip Cathers, Stanford University
Jessica Meyer, The College of Idaho
Pablo Piedra, Duke University
Eva Chung, The College of Idaho

Successful W.E.B. Scholars must have a 3.7 unweighted GPA, be endorsed by the Borah faculty, have taken at least one Advanced Placement course in Social Studies, English, and Science, and Math, and two in Science, and have earned "points" by taking other rigorous coursework while in high school.

Phillip Cathers speaks at the W.E.B. Scholar dinner

Each Scholar spoke at the W.E.B. Scholars dinner, addressing factors which made him/her successful in high school, giving credit to teachers who influenced him/her, and thanking parents for all they have done for them. It was truly a magical evening.

Congratulations, 2016 William Edgar Borah Scholars!