Utah?s education establishment and teacher?s union succeeded in obtaining enough signatures to get the recently passed school choice law on hold until a statewide referendum. Gov. Huntsman Jr. is proposing the February 2008 elections for the vote.
California and Michigan have already had school choice referenda defeats. The education establishment poured money into an anti school choice marketing campaign, and was tremendously successful. In California, the teacher?s union raised dues and paid millions for media ads. Michigan had the same scenario.
Utah will be another battleground, hosting a pivotal election and showing if a ?tipping point? has occurred in the school choice movement. The concept is better understood and the general public is beginning to recognize the establishment’s scare tactics in their propaganda advertising.
Meanwhile tax-credits are gaining ground around the country, providing a reasonable alternative. Either method, vouchers or tax-credits, gives families more educational choices.