Note: Watch www.schoolchoiceinfo.org for a response to this letter from former DPI Supt. Grover.

Governor, Legislature failed to act

I dislike writing "I told you so" letters, but the Sept. 22 editorial supporting the monitoring of choice schools motivates me to share some history on the subject.

Rep. Annette Polly Williams (D-Milwaukee) attached an amendment to a state budget, in the wee hours of the morning, authorizing choice schools. The Department of Public Instruction vigorously petitioned the governor and the Legislature to modify the choice school authority to ensure greater accountability - because public money was involved and, more important, the health, safety, education and welfare of children in choice schools needed to be assured.

The DPI suggested several modifications: some form of uniform accounting should be required so regular audits could assure that public money was being spent appropriately; facilities used to educate choice children should pass safety and health inspections; choice students should be given the grade level comprehensive exams required of the public school district in which the choice school resides; there should be some authority to deny a choice school based on a check of the criminal record of the applicant and the school's basic plan of instruction.

The governor and the Legislature did nothing. I remember the DPI sending funds to one choice school with a stated enrollment of 40 students. The initial check was cashed, the school closed down and it is not known what happened to the precious children or the public money.

Well, now I told you so. We get so smart so late. The editorial was belatedly on the public money.

Bert Grover Former state school superintendent Gresham