The governor’s top education agenda item in 2005 is called the Put Parents In Charge Act. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? However, what does it really mean? Aren’t parents already in charge of their children’s education?

Basically, the governor’s proposed legislation is about money. It does nothing to address academics or accountability for educational performance. The Put Parents In Charge Act is designed to give families and scholarship-granting organizations tax credits to pay for private school tuition or to fund home schooling.

It must be noted that families must pay initially for the tuition and then receive income tax and property tax credits at the end of the year. Can average households afford $4,000 per child to enroll in private schools and then wait until the end of the year to see what percentage of tax credit (based on family annual income) they qualify for?

Don’t fool yourself into thinking parents would be in charge of where their children could go to school. Private schools make the final decision about whether they will accept children. They can consider such things as behavior, academic performance and family backgrounds when deciding on their enrollment. Public schools accept, and strive to teach, all students. Public schools also teach students to accept and work with all students.

Though public dollars would be used to fund private education for a select few, there is no public accountability for these dollars. There is no PACT or exit exam requirement for students attending private schools. Surely our state cannot justify diverting public monies into private tuitions with no accountability to taxpayers. Should all our taxpayers be required to fund private education?

South Carolina public schools have made significant academic gains since the landmark Education Accountability Act of 1998. The 2004 annual school and district report cards showed that of more than 1,100 schools, only 28 are rated unsatisfactory. Despite increasing rigor in the rating scale, schools performed at a higher level than ever before.

Our state’s PACT is among the most challenging assessments nationwide. This year, only one district in the state was rated unsatisfactory. In the past six years, South Carolina has emphasized proficiency in education for all students. Administrators, teachers, students and family members have worked together toward accountability and success.

This year’s school and district report cards affirm that public schools are making improvements and are on the path to accomplish our goals for all students in South Carolina.

Educators are asking legislators to recognize our accomplishments and to continue to support public education. Diverting public monies to private education, especially with no accountability in place, is a slap in the face to public education and to all of the progress our state has made.

Public tax dollars should remain in public schools. Parents can only be “put in charge” when they actively participate in their children’s education. Many parents see positive results achieved in the public education system because they stay involved. However, these successes will be in jeopardy if public dollars are diverted to private education. Our state cannot afford to fund two separate education systems, one private and one public.

As public educators, my colleagues and I are asking the public to contact legislators. Please ask them to make the right choice and support public education. Please don’t be misled by the catchy title of the “Put Parents In Charge Act.” It is a fancy way of implementing a voucher system.

States such as Minnesota, Florida and Arizona that have already implemented similar programs are encountering financial and legal problems. Our state would be far better-served by continuing to support the public education system that is emphasizing academic proficiency for all of its children.

Ms. Lee is 2003-2004 Union County teacher of the year and chairperson of the Union County Schools’ District Teacher Advisory Committee.