Georgia’s tuition-tax credit law weakest in nation

There’s a “National Conference of State Legislatures”?

Learn something new every day.

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Coorperate Scholarships for American citizens.
Oversight,regulations, and general scrutinity……….out the but.
.
American citizen assacination by drone.
Not so much.
.
weird.

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Yet another number 1 the citizens of Georgia can be proud of.

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Here we go again – more liberal bleeding heart social justice.

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Again, the intent was to give students in public school an option, not to create a tax subsidy for those already in private schools.

Not in Georgia, it wasn’t. ’twas a feature, not a bug.

(IMNSHO.)

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Most states at least make an effort to ensure that tax-subsidized scholarships are limited to lower-income students who might otherwise be stuck in an underperforming public school

Normal left/right speak- “stuck”. Really- going on 5 years suggesting you go to a metro school that has high achievement and has lower income families who found a way not to be “stuck”. Get out of your glass house and visit a school, a local fitness center, a park- it will be catharsis.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/georgia/districts/fulton-county/alpharetta-high-school-5921

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Since the legislators in this state take their marching orders from the NRA, just close down this private school give away which the state cannot afford, and use the money to hire school guards as LaPierre has decreed, I suggest a fully equipped swat team member in every school with an assault weapon and very large ammo clip.

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“The annual total of such tax credits would increase to $80 million, a $29 million hit to an already inadequate state budget.”

Stop spending! There I fixed it.

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independent thinker

February 6th, 2013
8:15 am
Why do all that! The president can have a drone flying around the school and blast that terrorist.

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The City Council voted Monday to change the names of three parks that honor the Confederacy and two of its notable members.

The resolution changes the name of Confederate Park to Memphis Park; Jefferson Davis Park to Mississippi River Park; and Nathan Bedford Forrest Park to Health Sciences Park.

Looks like some of our neighbors are growing up. Good job, Memphis.

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The natives are so much more easily manipulated if they are kept uneducated.

Why pay for an education when they can get what they need for free on FOX. After all, it’s not like Republicans do math or science.

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“Here we go again – more liberal bleeding heart social justice.”

Exactly! Here we go again with the entitlement mentality. Well to do suburbanites mooching off the system. Its not enough for these leeches to send their kids to their good suburban schools they are always bragging about, they want private-public schools for their kids. First it was Obamaphones, now we have Obamaschools.

I’ll bet you can find the parents of those kids in the ObamaSchools shopping at Whole Foods!

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Thomas,
I just have to come back in and say this…
your, “American citizen assacination by drone.
Not so much.” can be your pacifier if it gets you through the day, but I’ll just point and laugh at you. You are quite good at ignoring facts just to keep on hating the president. Sad, that.

BTW: Assassination is how it’s spelled.

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Will our education system become a total “pay-for-play” system?

http://www.arc.org/content/view/100/217/

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State after state — most of them conservative — either tries to target the aid to those in need or to make the schools accountable for their product. Many do both.

Georgia does neither.

That’s because state after state, the legislators actually were trying to help students who really needed the help. In Georgia, that was not their intent, and that’s quite obvious in how the legislation was drafted and explained to the people who they truly wanted to benefit from this program.

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Whatever

February 6th, 2013
8:25 am

Yeah but you have anomalies everywhere. It’s a sad state of affairs in low income IL neighborhoods…different issues I think in the war zones..

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I’m telling you, we deliberately put the wording in there for that.”

Jay, do you know if anyone check the legislative record to see what was said at the time the bill was passed. I know the records are relatively weak but would be interesting to see if this was an open purposeful act or just an open secret (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

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When systems like Dekalb, APS etc. are in existence, then folks have about gotta do something…..right or wrong. There are a few good schools along the fringes, but by and large the mess that is APS (just one example) is a glowing example of a waste of tax dollars. You could throw cash to those buffoons all day, and it would not improve. Schools now are too busy handling political correctness, the latest cure-of-the-day, and taking the classrooms away from the teachers. Students can openly cuss a teacher, yet then cannot be touched. I attended both public and private schools. In the private school, you act up, you get that tail torn up. Amazing…very little discipline problems. And because I said APS, folks will bring race into it. Too bad……that is not the deal. There were both black and white I went to school with…..a black guy I went to school with in earlier years, then later to UGA with is now Chief of Staff (surgery) at a hospital here in Georgia (don’t wanna give his I.D. away, so will not say where.) It is the CULTURE! To vote in incompetent people who in many cases are not too educated themselves is a travesty. The right to vote does not mean the intelligence to do so. Public schools have gotten too much about a power grab, the latest fad, blah blah blah and too little about educating kids. Rant and rave on this blog all you want to. Lets see where APS is in ten years……sorry folks; it won’t be much better!

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In RB-landia, making a legitimate case against a truly stupid public policy equals “taking cheap shots a Christian schools.”

Golly, wonder why our RB is so very sensitive about this. Enjoying that free money you’re getting from me & mine, are ya, RB?

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DannyX

February 6th, 2013
8:23 am

Suggest you research Obamaphone thingy. You may be surprised what you learn.

Suggest also you take a walk thru of a lower income, inner city school sometime. Perhaps exposure to that will hit home a bit.

Otherwise, I find your comments turd-like.

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Keep Up

When you do a Google search for this topic, the NY Times did an article on that where they had video links to GA legislators explaining how to benefit from the tunnels (too damned big to simply be referred to as loopholes) they wrote into the legislation.

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dB @ 8:35

A hit dog will always holler….

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RB from Gwinnett

February 6th, 2013
8:31 am

Imagine how much money we could free up by eliminating tax favored status to all things Christian? From my vantage point, they simply spend the savings on new bricks and mortar for their posse. Very self serving…even much of the “charity” work is done for selfish purposes.

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Thomas Heyward Jr

February 6th, 2013
8:40 am

No. But I think I understand your point. Rich kids should have same access to tuition assistance as lower income kids.

Res ipsa loquitur…

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In stands-landia is it standard practice to ignore major issues in APS

Given that APS is not the topic Jay’s blog this morning–

Blogspot, wordpress, the world is your oyster, knowoti’msayin?

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Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am…I think.

February 6th, 2013
8:27 am

Thomas,
I just have to come back in and say this…
your, “American citizen assacination by drone.
Not so much.” can be your pacifier if it gets you through the day, but I’ll just point and laugh at you.
——————————————————–
.
No suprise there.
Progs usually do laugh and sneer at peace, love, abhorrence of violence, and basic deceny.
.
Different tokes for different folks…………I guess.

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Who would Jesus con?

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indigo

February 6th, 2013
8:52 am

Thomas Hewyard, Jr. – 8:40

Rich parents almost always see to it that their children get the best schooling.
——————————————————————————————————————
.
That’s simply not true.
My parents were by no means rich but still sacrificed to send me to Private schools.
Conversly,,,,,I know many rich parents who refuse to send their children to private schools because they are burdened with paying for the “government” schools.
They cannot …or will not…….sacrifice their “lifestyle”.
.
Again…………….it isn’t the child’s fault.
See Abdulrahman.

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SFD “Remember, next time you find yourself stuck in traffic behind some luxobarge SUV bearing a “My Kid Goes 2 Fundienutterbutter Academy!” sticker–you helped fund that, AND generously allowed said SUV pilot to maintain life in a manner to which he or she has become accustomed.”

That is one of the stupidest things I have seen you say. And you have said a lot of stupid things on this forum. First – you make the ridiculous assumption that everyone who sends their kid to private school goes for free because of this scholarship.

The truth is that probably 99% of people who send their kids to private school are paying for it out of their pocket. Not even getting a tax deduction for their tuition, and not using the public schools that they pay a considerable amount of taxes to support. Maybe you should thank these people for subsidising the public school system that they aren’t using. But no, you would rather be an azzwipe and make snarky comments toward them.

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Jay, our duty is to subsidize the “Haves” so they can stay that way.

Didn’tcha know?

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I think all the great unwashed (that would be the tax payers paying for this scam) should attend every PTA meeting, recitals, science fair (yeah right) and every other school function they hold. After all, we are paying for it, right?

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Is this just a rehash of a previous thread or are we breaking new ground here? If you read bill 1133, it specifically states that a student cannot participate in this program if their family income, total, is more than 85K/yr. That pretty well eliminates most if not all of those evil rich Republicans who Bookman rails on about every day.

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No matter how you cut it..it shows that the Government Schools are failing and there is a movement to create competition..bet the Teachers Union love that!

Now about those Drones killing Americans…wait until they hit a US citizen on US soil…

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Thomas Hewyard, Jr. – 8:59

Oh really.

Every rich family I’ve ever known always sent their children to the best schools. Almost all the rich are so vain about themselves that it’s imperative their offspring do will so that the family name will always be looked up to. The Kennedys are a good example of this.

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Danny X at 8:23:
“”"”"”"”"”"”“Here we go again – more liberal bleeding heart social justice.”

First it was Obamaphones, now we have Obamaschools.”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”
Prime example here of low intelligence voter the Stupid party in this state caters too. You will see the term Obamaphone used as holy grail on Wingnut’s blog. Actually it was a program started by Saint Ronald Reagan,

“”"”"”"”"”"”"”Although no one will ever know who really coined the term “Obama phone,” the truth is government assistance for phone service has been in existence since the 1980′s. The Federal Lifeline program, which is paid for by customer fees on most phone bills, began in 1985 under the universal access initiative instated by Ronald Reagan’s administration. The government began offering discounted phone service to needy Americans who were unemployed or living at or below the poverty level.

In 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the Universal Service Fund, stating that all providers of telecommunications services should contribute a specified fee to the fund to be used to increase nationwide access to advanced telecommunications services” and “advance the availability of such services to all consumers, including those in low income, rural, insular, and high cost areas at rates that are reasonably comparable to those charged in urban areas.” Thus the program shifted from discounted landlines to mobile phones, since they were thought to be more useful.”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"
http://obamaphone.net/10-truths-about-the-obama-phone/

So the low intelligence cons need to talk about Ronniephones if they are trying to deal with reality which is often not the case.

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ahh, the state coffers take a hit, isnt that sad. Hey Jay, it OUR MONEY. Yes I know we must pay taxes and most of us do it willingly. But whining that the state coffers takes a hit because horrors of horrors some of us pay LESS taxes (notice most folks dont get money back, they pay less due to the tax credit) is pathetic. Typical liberal crap.

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clarification, lets not confuse persons getting a check from the state due to over payment of taxes with persons who not only received the taxes that were withheld back but actually ended up with a net payment from the state.

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Uh Oh! Kayaker got called out for lying. Again.

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notevenatinyfragmentofcommonsense — “The truth is that probably 99% of people who send their kids to private school are paying for it out of their pocket.”

Good. If they want their kids going to private school, that’s what they *should* be doing.

“Not even getting a tax deduction for their tuition”

Nor should they. If you want to send your kid to private school, then have at it. But don’t expect a pat on the back or a tax deduction for doing it. Its your choice, so you pay the freight yourself.

“and not using the public schools that they pay a considerable amount of taxes to support.”

Everyone pays taxes to support the public schools, even the childless. If you don’t want to support the district’s public schools, then move somewhere else where they use a different funding mechanism to pay for them. Maybe that place will also give you a big wet kiss for sending your kid to private school, too.

“Maybe you should thank these people for subsidising the public school system that they aren’t using.”

You’re welcome.

“But no, you would rather be an azzwipe and make snarky comments toward them.”

He hasn’t said one thing snarky about the childless, and they fit into that same category. The only ones who are being snarky are the gimme-gimme types like you who apparently think that they deserve some sort of tongue-kiss from the state in exchange for sending their kids to private schools.

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If you read bill 1133, it specifically states that a student cannot participate in this program if their family income, total, is more than 85K/yr.

Reading a bill isn’t quite the same as reading the legislation that was actually signed into law. A bill can change many times before it’s finally signed into law. According to the Georgia Dept of Ed,

http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Policy/Pages/Tax-Credit-Program.aspx

The actual legislation itself doesn’t mention a family income limit. The only amounts that are even mention in reference to a family are the maximum tax credits allowed, which is $1000 for a single parent and $2500 for a married couple.

On that link above you will find the following link in the Resources section:

•State Law (UPDATED 5/19/2011)

I think legislation that was updated in 2011 kinda trumps bill 1133 that was actually signed into law by Gov. Perdue.

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We need to demand that changes be adopted regarding this law. Changes that mirror one of the other states Jay mentioned. I will e-mail my Rep. today.

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Sue the state, get lawyers involved. Shut it down.

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Heywood: Exactly. That’s why it is so important to abolish “Government” schools.

Yes I noted you cut out reading and writing. But do tell us why it is so important. You are claiming that only those who can afford an education should have one?

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“I nominate td for post of the day. I know it’s still early, but if someone tops that one, good on ‘em, as the Aussies say.”

Congrats td on your 326th post of the day.

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Jefferson

February 6th, 2013
9:31 am

Thanks for your wise comments and intelligent contribution to today’s blog!

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you make the ridiculous assumption that everyone who sends their kid to private school goes for free because of this scholarship.

It would be ridiculous if I had actually made such an assumption, but of course I never posted any such thing.

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DannyX————

Thomas Heyward, something is seriously wrong with your logic. Public schools in America are largely responsible for making this nation the richest country in the world. Our public schools feed our system that produces a good bit of the world’s new technology. Finding a spooky Detroit boogeyman to make your case is just plain stupid———-
.
————————————————————————————–
.
richest country?
Which public school did you go to.?
.
If you mention “formage” at any of my local grocery stores………they’ll call the manager.
The public schools are good at causing a recent graduate to ask for ID’s to buy beer……………….regardless of the old age.
Don’t EVEN attempt to ask for a certain denomination of change or attempt to do business if the “puters” are down.
.
Our greatness and technology breakthroughs or acumen is a result of private colledges, other institutes of higher learning and/or good ole fashioned self discipline and self-learning (see Bill Gates)……………………..despite the 12 previous years of government school Robotic Indoctirnation.
.
Admit it…………learn it………….live it.

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Kyle says you are wrong, that the money does go to low-income deserving students. I tend to believe you though.

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If you read bill 1133, it specifically states that a student cannot participate in this program if their family income, total, is more than 85K/yr.

As was stated earlier, Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program is the most transparent of the scholarship groups. Per their website…

At the time a private school elects to participate in the GOAL Scholarship Program, GOAL provides school officials with a set of voluntary guidelines that school officials may consider in formulating their scholarship recommendations. It is up to school officials to decide whether and in what cases to comply with the voluntary guidelines. Under the guidelines, in order for a child to receive a GOAL Scholarship, total household income of the applicant family must not exceed $88,000. Under the guidelines, the maximum scholarship that may be awarded is an amount equal to 85 percent of the private school’s lowest published rate of tuition for the recipient’s grade or $9,046, whichever is less. In order to validate the family’s adjusted gross income, parents will be required by the school to provide copies of the first two pages of their most recently filed federal income tax return. An overwhelming majority of GOAL participating schools are using these voluntary guidelines.

http://www.goalscholarship.org/for_parents/

The legislation does not in and of itself set a limit. GOAL has voluntary guidelines that limit family income to $88k, which would violate the legislation based on your assertion.

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Governor Deal has allowed several “questionable” amendments/policies to take place on his watch:

1. Changed the way that the Hope Scholarships are distributed.
2. Allowed several money generating areas to form their own cities/governments.
3. Placed a trick amendment on the ballot allowing a state appointed board to give final approval of Charter Schools. The local school systems no longer have the final say.
4. Changed several district areas to form a majority rule when it comes to elections.
5. Continues to charge a toll fee on roads that have already been paid for.
6. Would like for a certain percentage of the hotel/motel tax revenues to be used to help finance a stadium for the Falcons.

Feel free to continue with this list folks…we are being duped…..

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td that is a good one, totally agree, very well written.

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I nominate td for post of the day. I know it’s still early, but if someone tops that one, good on ‘em, as the Aussies say.

I second that nomination. I couldn’t have stated it much better myself.

Jay

I didn’t remember any income limit in the legislation from the beginning. I think, err… hope, he’s simply confusing what some of the programs have called limits vs what the actual legislation says. Anybody that would be adamant about what legislation actually says and be completely wrong has to be someone who has no idea of how Google or Yahoo works.

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JAY
its ridiculous that any money is given to go to college…………. GA RANKS LOW YEAR AFTER YEAR compared to every state ………

imo
ALL LOTTERY MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT ON K-5……….. so that we endsure that every student can read write and do math…….. the building blocks of all learning……….

college and computers is a joke………. its welfare for computer companies and upper middle class kids……….

YET WE HAVE A WHOLE POPULATION THAT DROPS OUT OR “GRADUATES” BUT CANNOT READ/WRITE AND DO BASIC MATH…

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Who plays the lottery and who benefits?

http://www.cviog.uga.edu/free-downloads/51.pdf

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Every dollar spent on Lottery is a dollar NOT spent on a tangible good or service and given to the state to mis-spend instead.

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Libs need to think of this program as an off-set.

Parents with kids in private school still pay property taxes that fund public school – the school gets the money but does not have the child to teach, thus expense goes down.

The idea that only the well-healed send their kids to private school is ridiculous. Many, many middle income families sacrifice and get help from parents to send their kids to public school. Why should they pay property taxes for a service they don’t use? Until the funding of public school is is fixed, this diversion of income tax is acceptable.

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“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” ………….. Saturdays excepted !

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U. Samantha — “imo
ALL LOTTERY MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT ON K-5……….. so that we endsure that every student can read write and do math…….. the building blocks of all learning……….”

I hate to say it, but I kinda have to agree with this. Making lottery proceeds available for college tuition is great, but IMO it’d be a heck of a lot better if that money went to getting our kids sharp in the *basics* so that more of them graduated from high school in the first place.

Free college tuition isn’t going to help a poor kid who gets ’socially promoted’ in school and who winds up all graduated n’ stuff but can’t read a lick or do basic math.

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J. Reb — “Many, many middle income families sacrifice and get help from parents to send their kids to public school. Why should they pay property taxes for a service they don’t use?”

I don’t have any kids, so I don’t have any kids in public school. So by your logic, I shouldn’t have to pay taxes to support public schools, right?

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td that is a good one, totally agree, very well written.

Me three. Whoops, now, make that me four.

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stands for decibels

February 6th, 2013
9:44 am

I think in addition to the HOPE objective to provide a leg up, it also serves a purpose in keeping the brightest kids in state. While it has made admission more exclusionary to kids who don’t test well or are C students, seems to me the overall impact is favorable.

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JohnnyReb

February 6th, 2013
9:54 am

The simple reason why property taxes are required by all is without school funding in a particular district, your property values would suffer….seems logical…

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Jay

February 6th, 2013
9:23 am
I nominate td for post of the day. I know it’s still early, but if someone tops that one, good on ‘em, as the Aussies say.
_________________________________________________________________
I want to know who kidnapped the real td and what they have done to him.

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seems to me the overall impact is favorable.

The HOPE scholarship, for all its flaws, is probably the single best thing Georgia has done in its entire history, perhaps short only of agreeing to join the US in the first place. (I’m open to nominees for Even Gooder Stuff GA has done at some point in its history, just can’t think of any.)

When I speak with out-of-staters and even out-of-countryers, I point with pride to it.

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Thomas Heyward, yes richest country in the world, by far.

Richest, most powerful nation ever in this planet’s history, yep.

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Okay now that Jay agrees that armed guards in schools are a good thing – how about the clowns under the gold dome do what the constitution says and require gun owners as part of that “well regulated militia necessary for the security of a free state serve a few weeks doing guard duty at a school in exchange for the right to own “arms” or they pay for a substitute guard. Or were the guys with wigs who wrote the constitution just mumbling nonsense when they wrote the second amendment? Maybe give them a tax credit too (if they join the NRA).

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in the middle — “Rich kids have this hammered into their heads from a young age, poor kids are taught to be victims.”

I know both rich and poor people who would tell you that they never received any lessons like the ones you’ve asserted they do.

“That being said, if a child from a low income area is taught by the parents to work hard and persist, they too will succeed.”

There’s no guarantee of that. Hard work and persistence do not *guarantee* wealth and success in our society.

“Quit blaming rich people.”

Quit blaming *poor* people.

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Let’s see you can work for things you want like a home and an education otr you can live in Bookman’s dream world where I work and the shallow end of the gene pool gets an education, cell phone, heltlh care, food stamps, housing, etc. Why work?

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“What was that national debt again?”

Thomas Heyward, you were proven to be wrong, not just wrong, ridiculously so. Then you deflect with more nonsense, way to go! I hope your parents didn’t waste a lot of money on your private education! They should see about a refund.

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A. Shrugged — ” I work and the shallow end of the gene pool gets”

You know, if you hate it here so much, there aren’t any bars *keeping* you here.

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saywhat?

February 6th, 2013
10:07 am

Jay

February 6th, 2013
9:23 am
I nominate td for post of the day. I know it’s still early, but if someone tops that one, good on ‘em, as the Aussies say.
_________________________________________________________________
I want to know who kidnapped the real td and what they have done to him.

No my friend this is my views and should be the views of anyone that is a true conservative/libertarian. Conservatives say they believe that everyone should be responsible for themselves and should not be dependent on the government for their day to day subsistence. Well that will NEVER happen without education. Study after study cites that if a person does not get at least a HS diploma then their is a very high risk that they will be doomed to a lifetime of poverty. The higher the education level the less risk to being poor. Study after study gives evidence that the number one indicator to having a successful educational experience is the involvement of the parent.

If the middle class (both white and black) are working up schemes to remove their children to schools of only like minded parents then it is only going to leave kids whose parents do not care in the public school system. These middle class parents will then not care about reforming the public schools, will not care about what the children in these schools learn and this action will doom them to not receiving the education needed to allow them to be responsible for their own lives in the future.

In other words, education breaks the cycle of poverty and turns non productive citizens into productive citizens and the result will be less government, less taxes and more freedom.

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If the middle class (both white and black) are working up schemes to remove their children to schools of only like minded parents then it is only going to leave kids whose parents do not care in the public school system. These middle class parents will then not care about reforming the public schools, will not care about what the children in these schools learn and this action will doom them to not receiving the education needed to allow them to be responsible for their own lives in the future.

This, a thousand times, this.

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Meanwhile…………..let us ignore the money spent on 12 course Daily meals ….courtesy of crony big-agri………..courtesy of the FedBugs………………………..
.
One has Breakfast in the classroom.
breakfast on the go.
and breakfast.
wtf?
I thought it was about education.
My bust.
Somewhere……………….somehow………………..some rich child might escape the dysfunction———–
Oh the humanity!
.
.
The real curriculum/menu From the APS——————–
.

Breakfast in the Classroom – February 2013.pdf
Grab and Go Breakfast – February 2013.pdf
Elementary Breakfast – Feburary 2013.pdf
Elementary Lunch – February 2013.pdf
Elementary Salad Bowl – February 2013.pdf
Secondary Breakfast – February 2013.pdf
Secondary Salad Bowl – February 2013.pdf
Middle School Lunch – February 2013.pdf
High School Lunch – February 2013.pdf
Forrest Hills Academy – February 2013.pdf
West End Academy – February 2013.pdf
Crim Open Campus – February 2013.pdf
Afterschool Snack – Februray
.
lol

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well, it all depends on how you look at it, good host…

in keeping Georgia backward & ignunt, and as an attempt to extend
the short term survival of the Georgia Republicans,

its the BEST in the nation, babeeee!

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makes no sense to promote college when our K-12 kids cant read or write

You might want to enroll in one of those “Learn to walk and chew gum” adult education classes.

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td – Many times your postings irritate or infuriate me. However, I have to say that your thoughts this AM are spot on. Thank You sir/madam.

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Jay

February 6th, 2013
10:14 am

“Jay show me the data on how well school performance tracks parent income. How is performance measures, what level of school, Less noise , please…”

alex, the data are easily available for those who care to look. For example, students with a household income of less than $20,000 average 434 on the reading section of the SAT; those with income above $200K average 563. And the association between income and performance is consistent on income groups between those two extremes.

I also note your assertion that this is “more of a moral issue than an economic: how far do the more fortunate subsidize the education of the less fortunate….” Are you suggesting that it is somehow immoral to require the fortunate to subsidize in that fashion?

If we don’t offer a good education to the poor, the whole concept of America as a merit-based nation in which it doesn’t matter to whom you were born disappears. (That notion is more myth than reality in the first place, but it does have SOME validity).

Jay,

There is a more fundamental attribute to the success of the children of rich people. Rich parents get it that education is the corner stone to being successful because more then likely it is way they built their own wealth in the first place. These parents understand that you read to your children when they are young. They understand that you teach your children how to add and subtract. They understand that you look at the kids school work in the early years, help them with their homework and they go to conferences with the objective to see what the weaknesses of their child is so that they can work with the child to improve them. The biggest thing they do is set the expectations for their children like: Your number one and only priority is being smart, C’s are not acceptable and college is not an option.

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td

Other than the appearance of a broad brushed critique of the middle class, I agree with what you said @ 10:24 too. I must have been the one to set off that 8.0 earthquake in the Solomon Islands by agreeing with td twice on one thread.

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“…I kind of COULD see why one might read…”, I meant @ 10.38.

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Aquagirl it seems that you have issue with the taxation thingie and want the credit. I think you have a shot with a related child if you care to try.

I do have an issue with the taxation “thingie,” but I do not want the credit.
I don’t know how to say this any clearer: I do not pay school taxes because I or my children used public schools. It’s taxes, not tuition.
I pay for public schools so some unrelated kid I’ve never met will get an education.

I think your confusion stems from the persistent (and apparently successful) attempts of people like Rep. Casas. You, as a taxpayer, do not personally decide how your tax money is spent. You elect representatives who decide.

A bunch of whining moochers have decided if their elected representative disagrees with them, they’re OPPRESSED, by gawd.

Those people can f#(k straight off, and please do not put me in their category.

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I hearby challenge Bookman to put his mouth where his money is…(and incidentally, where he wants everyone else to put their money).
.
Eat TWO government school eggs………………and I will refrain from donating to my local private school for five years.

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Jay, I don’t believe the issue then is self-determination. The issue is an economic issue facing the United States. We have gone from a nation that after World War II when we were the manufacturing leader of the world to where we are more of a serviced based economy. The way to move up is still self-determination. Higher Education is the key; a person can move from one level to another, he or she will have to work harder to accomplish it. Of course social mobility will be harder in an global economy.

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My husband and I contribute to Arete, an SSO with the highest standards. They are voluntarily transperent and share the SSO’s financial records (even their audits) and academic successes of their students. This kind of transperency should be the standard, not the exception, in the tax credit program. I am a huge believer in school chioce, and we need to strengthen this important program.

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Poor parents are not as caring as middle class parents,
easily demonstrated by their poverty status.

Got proof of that? How exactly does one poverty status demonstrate that they are not a caring parent? How does one’s status as middle class demonstrate they ARE a caring parent? That broad brush stroke could cause an eclipse right about now.

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td

Rich parents are much more likley to be smart than poor ones.

Most of the rich earned their money by being very smart and very well educated.

Smart parents are more likely to have smart children.

This, of course, is not politically correct. However, political correctness will not make it go away.

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Jie Hussein Mamma,
Good point, to a degree. However, the inner-city culture is more of a problem. Yes, this is a fact. It may be more due to poverty than anything, but the reality is until the overall culture climate change, nothing good will happen. Too many kids from single-parent non-supportive families. This is not bashing single moms, just stating that (I have kin-folks who work in some of the departments that handle these areas…dfcs, for one) by and large many of these kids have come from some of the negative circumstances that are so badly stereo-typed. They grow up w/o role models, and are in trouble at an early age. My mom was a teacher over forty years. Several (more than you might think) of the kids who came in were on their second kid and were 11th grade age. Seems like a generation got lost somewhere…..so many grandmothers trying to “ride-herd”. Nobody wants to talk about it because you get accused of racism or whatever. I coached many of these kids in rec ball, and the circumstances can be pretty bad. I bought many a happy-meal out of my pocket…….its the chicken or the egg syndrome. Without education, things will be bad. Without a culture change that values discipline and education, things will be bad. And, in APS, until quality people are installed, things will be bad. As I stated previously….cuss me or whatever, but APS will still be the floundering mess ten years from now it is today, and that is too bad.

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Thats “Joe”….my bad!

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Most of the rich earned their money by being very smart and very well educated.

Yep, that’s exactly why so many of those “rich” people try to eliminate the “death tax” or estate tax. Being very smart to be born to rich parents is a good way to become rich yourself. I think you’re risking blowing out your Achilles or stretching a hammy with that “Most” at the beginning of that statement. Just my opinion though.

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skipper says,
However, the inner-city culture is more of a problem. Yes, this is a fact. It may be more due to poverty than anything, but the reality is until the overall culture climate change, nothing good will happen. Too many kids from single-parent non-supportive families. This is not bashing single moms, just stating that (I have kin-folks who work in some of the departments that handle these areas…dfcs, for one) by and large many of these kids have come from some of the negative circumstances that are so badly stereo-typed.
_____

What about the rural areas where the poverty level is exceedingly high in the trailer parks and “meth” is the drug of choice? We all know what goes on the inner city. Let’s look at the “whole” state.

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…but it was deception by design.

Isn’t deception discouraged by one of those big ten “thou shalt not” thingies?

Red staters should be aware these kind of things.

Oh, I forgot, IOKIYAR — it’s in the bible.

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The eonomic genius of Obama will soon cause every one to be low income so the argument is with out merit. Having grown up in California at a time when there was no tuition for in state residents, I can appreciate the benefit of a low cost education. I did have to buy books, pay a student body fee which gave me free access to all atheletic events and access to the library. We also had to by a parking permit which we termed a “hunting license” due to the lack of parking spaces. We did have to have a B average in college core curriculum subjects and pass an entrance exam which included such subjects as U.S. History and Civics in addition to Math and English so most of todays aspiring freshamn probably couldn’t get in.

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skipper — “by and large many of these kids have come from some of the negative circumstances that are so badly stereo-typed. They grow up w/o role models, and are in trouble at an early age. My mom was a teacher over forty years. Several (more than you might think) of the kids who came in were on their second kid and were 11th grade age. Seems like a generation got lost somewhere…..so many grandmothers trying to “ride-herd”. Nobody wants to talk about it because you get accused of racism or whatever. I coached many of these kids in rec ball, and the circumstances can be pretty bad. I bought many a happy-meal out of my pocket…….its the chicken or the egg syndrome. Without education, things will be bad. Without a culture change that values discipline and education, things will be bad.”

FWIW, my parents easily qualified as ‘white trash’ when they were growing up. They came up in Appalachian coal country, where the only jobs were coal mining, farming, odd jobs or moonshining. There was no public transit and without a car, there was no way your parents were going to get a ‘town job’ in a store or the like.

Nobody there really cared about education because nobody had the money to get any past high school, and nobody really saw the need for it anyway.

That said, my dad did. He worked his hind end off raising and selling crops through his youth and teenage years. My grandfather worked as a coal miner in order to save a little money, and when my dad graduated, he went to college. More than that, he earned his Doctorate in Microbiology, and he’s now been teaching at the same university for the last 45 years.

So when I hear you come down on the inner cities, I also hear you coming down on hillbillies like my own family. I agree that there’s not a lot of value placed on education in the hills or in the inner cities, but whose fault is that? The kids’?

Frankly, if you don’t see the value of education in your world, you’re not going to care to pursue any, regardless of where you came up. It’s not just an inner-city thing.

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“The eonomic genius of Obama will soon cause every one to be low income so the argument is with out merit.”

Right, because things are so much worse now.

“This sucker could go down” were the good ol’ days.

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b. frog — “for what other reason than they care more than poor parents ?”

Caring is an individual trait, not a class-linked one.

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indigo

February 6th, 2013
10:49 am

td

Rich parents are much more likley to be smart than poor ones.

Most of the rich earned their money by being very smart and very well educated.

Smart parents are more likely to have smart children.

This, of course, is not politically correct. However, political correctness will not make it go away.

To accept that statement as true then you have to accept that some people are incapable of learning and that smartness is inherited. I believe learning is about motivation and the willingness to work hard. Yes, the children of rich people have the advantage of being more likely to be motivated the correct way because their parents have become wealthy because they have the motivation. I have seen very little to no evidence that children of poor people are incapable of learning and can cite one example after another of poor children becoming very successful in education and life. The real disadvantage of the children of poor people is that they have to work harder and longer then the children of rich people to reach the same educational levels due to the inherent advantages the children of rich people have in motivation of the parent as well as more resources available to get the child to a certain level of success.

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WTF is “out of status”? Is that some new legal term the liberals have made up?

Out of status is the LEGAL term used to describe any foreign citizen in the US with no status. A person can enter the US legally as a tourist, violate their status and be considered “out of status”. Likewise, a person here on a work visa can file to become a legal resident and be considered “out of status” until their legal residence is approved. Liberals did not make that up, contrary to what you think. If you actually knew anything about immigration law, you would know that term has been around for a long time.

If I were you, I’d stick to running whatever kind of business it is that you own and leave the immigration stuff to the people that know what they’re doing. Just a bit of advice from someone with immigration knowledge. I’m sure you wouldn’t want me questioning how you run your business, right?

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frog: for what other reason than they care more than poor parents ?

Jay made that assertion, not me. Ask him. I simply think your statement was overly broad and non-provable. I don’t think income status can prove or disprove how much or how little a parent cares for their child. That’s just my view though.

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td

Jay,

There is a more fundamental attribute to the success of the children of rich people. Rich parents get it that education is the corner stone to being successful because more then likely it is way they built their own wealth in the first place. These parents understand that you read to your children when they are young. They understand that you teach your children how to add and subtract. They understand that you look at the kids school work in the early years, help them with their homework and they go to conferences with the objective to see what the weaknesses of their child is so that they can work with the child to improve them. The biggest thing they do is set the expectations for their children like: Your number one and only priority is being smart, C’s are not acceptable and college is not an option.
.
.
.
.
Sounds just like growing up in my parents household except we weren’t rich.

It also never occurred to us that we were poor.

To my father and mother an A- was unacceptable, study hour was 3 to 5 daily, every 2 weeks there was a forced march to the closest public library and school based extra-curricular activities were a must.

I am so grateful for their love and patience.

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Still worried about a few taxpayer dollars going to legitimate schools… You libs are something else Jay….

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[...] Georgia’s tuition tax credit law is the weakest in the nation, according to the National Conference of State Legislators. (AJC) [...]

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What about more important issues Jay? Such as obama killing whenever he feels like it with his drones.

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Brosephus™

February 6th, 2013
10:58 am

Too many kids from single-parent non-supportive families. This is not bashing single moms, just stating that (I have kin-folks who work in some of the departments that handle these areas…dfcs, for one) by and large many of these kids have come from some of the negative circumstances that are so badly stereo-typed.

There are many bad apples coming from two parent homes just as there are coming from single parent homes. I don’t buy the excuse of blaming things on the single parent.

I agree that there are bad children that come out of two parent households but there is a much greater risk of a child being a “bad apple” in a single parent household. There has been a great deal of research to show that the risk factors go up tremendously for children of a single parent to end up in prison, to become sexually active at a younger age, to do drugs and to drop out of school.

Now just look at the situation from an educational prospective. If you are a single working parent then you have to work, come home and prepare all the meals, wash all the clothes, pay all the bills, get the children their baths and get their clothes reasy for the next day. How much time does that leave to do homework with the kids? How much time does that leave to talk to the children about what they learned in class that day? Do you have the time to go to conferences and when the teacher points out a weakness of your child where is the time to implement any strategies to turn the weakness around?

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I don’t understand the cynicism and animosity towards those who participate in this program. I spend a ton of money in property tax for schools my kids do not attend. I am taxed by the state on the tuition money that I spend to send them to private school. I have not done so yet, but intend on participating in this program this year at our school, even though, BY LAW, my kids cannot benefit in any way from it. Our school seeks those in our community who could not otherwise afford to come to our school, kids that would be going to bad public schools otherwise.

How does this make me lazy and a coward?

If you think people are cheating the system, prove it and prosecute. Otherwise, don’t advocate the destruction of a program that is helping kids get a good education that they would not otherwise get from the state.

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Jay and others seem to think these parents are
needed for the benefit of the poor kids.

Isn’t that one of the selling points of democracy, that we all learn and benefit by another’s experience?

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Joe,

Let me try tp make it a little simpler for you to understand.

Don’t blame rich people meams just that. Do not blame your success or lack of it on how much money somebody else has. Sheesh, talk about only seeing what you want to..

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What about more important issues Jay? Such as obama killing whenever he feels like it with his drones.

Too funny!

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Christian Conservative

February 6th, 2013
11:21 am

What about more important issues Jay? Such as obama killing whenever he feels like it with his drones.
.
.
.
.
I bet you can just feel him targeting you……

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Incoming!

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alex

February 6th, 2013
11:06 am

@ td, what if these parents have labored within the public system for years only to find that they just can’t make a dent in the rubbish, what if they live in atlanta or Clayton or Dekalb county where the system is so dysfunctional that the schools are loosing their accreditation. Who, in the end are these middle class people responsible for, Their own children ! That said we may have a moral need to support all children, but I will NOT put MY children in a public school because they need middle class familiies, my obligation is to MY family first !

1: I would say that these parents did not work hard enough to organize and demand changes.

2: I would say that if a parent is works with their child, supplements the school curriculum and sets the right expectations for their child then it does not matter where the child attends school because that child is going to be successful.

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I’m just amazed that libs don’t want parents to have a choice. They simply want parents forced to send our kids to failing public schools… They have a War on Children!!!

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We’re all aware of the issues of people overstaying their visa. We’re also aware that has NOTHING to do with the conversation about immigration reform.

RB

You asked a question and I gave you an answer. I guess that, since you didn’t like the answer, you go off on a tangent totally unrelated to your question. Here’s a hint for you in the future. Don’t ask a question that you don’t want answered.

Hell, if you knew all that stuff, as you claimed, why did you ask about what “out of status” meant? I try not to talk about people, but your response to me was about the most stupid one I’ve ever seen here. You shifted goalposts so fast that your current position isn’t even in the same galaxy of your original question. I’m guessing your business that you own has to be a goalpost moving company or something related to moving things….

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Joe Hussesin:

You are not subsidizing my kids tuition! In fact I’m probably subsidizing yours! You and Jay ignore the fact that many in Georgia refuse to put their kids in public school because “they suck” especially in our area. So until GA can provide a quality education in all locales then your argument doesn’t hold water!

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td @ 11:23

A good parent makes the time. A bad parent does not. It doesn’t matter whether there is one parent in the home or two. I was brought up in the community that is suposedly beseiged by the one-parent problem. I have seen just as many bad apples come from a two parent home as I’ve seen come from a one parent home. I have also seen just as many successes from both.

The number of parents under the roof has less bearing on how active the parent is in the child’s life.

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in the middle — “Joe, Let me try tp make it a little simpler for you to understand.”

No, let me make is simpler for YOU to understand.

I understand you just fine what you’re saying. I simply don’t AGREE with you.

“Don’t blame rich people meams just that.”

Then don’t blame poor people while you’re whining about rich people getting blamed.

“Do not blame your success or lack of it on how much money somebody else has.”

Do not make up arguments and attribute them to others. I neither said nor suggested any such thing.

“Sheesh, talk about only seeing what you want to..”

Sheesh, talk about being both dishonest and misleading.

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C. Conservative — “I’m just amazed that libs don’t want parents to have a choice.”

Lies make baby jesus cry.

They simply want parents forced to send our kids to failing public schools…”

See above.

“They have a War on Children!!!”

Three lies in a row. Wonder how that’s going to look on your Permanent Record?

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Joe Hussesin:

You are not subsidizing my kids tuition! In fact I’m probably subsidizing yours!

He’s already said that he doesn’t have any kids.

I hope for your kid’s sake that your lack of reading comprehension isn’t an inherited trait.

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Almost forgot about this little gem. ““I hope no one uses the term ‘illegal immigrants’ here today, Our citizens are, the people in this country are not illegal, they are out of status

RB, rather than complaining about John Conyers, perhaps you should complain to the “outreach arm of a top GOP super PAC” who already have strongly recommended such usage. per [emphasis mine]

http://atr.rollcall.com/gop-group-urges-tonally-sensitive-immigration-messaging/

When talking about immigrants:
Do use “undocumented immigrant” when referring to those here without documentation
Don’t use the word “illegals” or “aliens”
Don’t use the term “anchor baby”

(oh, and Jay already blogged about that^^ but I’ll try not to resort to teat-for-tattery and call you a “dunce” because, well, I’m a superior human being, I guess.)

——————-

Done.
Eat 13 Government school eggs and I will grace this blog no more.
.
Deal?
I’m not holding my breath.

Shrug. 13 scrambled eggs = a 910 kcal meal, a bit tedious and bland but no big deal for lunch or dinner on an empty stomach. I could work something out with my kid’s school-lunch lady if you really want to see this rhetorical silliness through.

Ask Jay for my email address and send me a polite note with the words “jay bookman stunt” in the subject line, and I’ll be happy to begin working out the logistics, under the condition that we both agree to maintain blog anonymity going forward.

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The court system is the answer, keep up the pressure.

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Again, not blaming poor people, blaming behavior.

Definition of BEHAVIOR

1
a : the manner of conducting oneself
b : anything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulation
c : the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment
2
: the way in which someone behaves; also : an instance of such behavior
3
: the way in which something functions or operates

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SoCoBro, With 11 Million illegals in the country maybe you need to find another job, as it seems to me that your not very good at it.

Reagan’s 1986 amnesty program says, “What?”

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“I’m just amazed that libs don’t want parents to have a choice. They simply want parents forced to send our kids to failing public schools… They have a War on Children!!!”

Wow, that is some drama, Christian Conservative.

How about you tell us where the money is going. Is the money going to the northern suburbs with their excellent public schools, or is it going to the area where the failing public schools are?

Whats that? You can’t say because the program is secret by design and that information is unavailable? How convenient.

Who would Jesus con?

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T. O. Half — “SoCoBro, With 11 Million illegals in the country maybe you need to find another job, as it seems to me that your not very good at it.”

Given that he’s working at a Port of Entry and not out on some stretch of road-and-fence along the Mexican border, I’d say that your weak attempt at an insult is both t3h LAME and t3h FAIL.

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The other half…

If I ever decide to go off of what “seems” to you, I would likely do the opposite of what you suggest based on your posting history. Thanks for the suggestion though. I guess you think I’m some kind of “Super Negro” like Obama or something in that I’d personally be capable of stopping the supposed 11 million people in this country without documentation and/or status. Especially considering that many of those people entered this country long before I began working in immigration.

How about you see if you can tag along with some immigration officers and/or inspectors to see what we actually do on the job? Maybe someone will let you test your interview skills to see if you can determine whether a person is telling the truth or lying to you and catch them in that lie in a span of seconds and/or minutes. I’d love to have you try to do my job for a week and see how your performance stacks up to mine.

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in the middle — “Again, not blaming poor people, blaming behavior.”

Rejected. Maybe when you’ve thought out your argument a little better and have managed to exclude all those references to wealth, “the poor’ and “the rich” in it, then I might agree with you. Until then, sorry, nothing doing.

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I guess you think I’m some kind of “Super Negro” like Obama or something…

I thought that the PC term was, “magic negro.”

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Bottom Line: public schools paid by everyone, availabel to every kid, donations to private schools outside of taxes should be available to all students going to try to go to private schools and are, by law,althogh the money should go to those who are poorer, reality is few poor children get this money and against the law some schools direct this money to wealthier parents ( we agree this is illegal). Reality check , how many poorer families have a couple of thousand dollars to invest with appropriate tax break in their child’s education..?Program probably really depends on wealthier parents anyway to fund and many of these are sending their kids to private school, thus they are being charitable, thus a deduction, but NO, this is a moral obligation, …no? Sounds like a Danny arguement, my appologies!

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Kayaker, Why are you stirring the pot with facts.

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Maybe if he watched the Port of Entry a little closer instead of his computer screen there wouldn’t be 11 million illegals here. Just sayin.

Maybe if you understood such basic concepts as OFF DAYS or work schedules, you wouldn’t make such an ass of yourself. Then again, why quit doing something that you’re great at doing.

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DannyX

“I’m just amazed that libs don’t want parents to have a choice. They simply want parents forced to send our kids to failing public schools… They have a War on Children!!!”

Wow, that is some drama, Christian Conservative. Yeah about like the phony wars you libs came up with during the campaign….

How about you tell us where the money is going. Is the money going to the northern suburbs with their excellent public schools, or is it going to the area where the failing public schools are? Its going to all public schools. The fact that you libs libs don’t understand is that you can’t simply throw money at a problem and think it will disappear. i.e. the federal gubmint….

Whats that? You can’t say because the program is secret by design and that information is unavailable? How convenient. My tax returns should be unavailable.. You or any other lib has no business knowing how I file my returns and what credits and deductions I take…

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Paul
February 6th, 2013
11:50 am

“What about more important issues Jay? Such as obama killing whenever he feels like it with his drones.”

There goes the Christian bearing false witness again.

on topic, as I’m supposed to say something on the topic: once again, the shenanigans in Georgia make me realize that, while Republicans do some unethical things in Texas, it could always be worse.

Yes such as wasting millions in tax payer dollars like dem controlled state legislatures do…

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T. O. Half — “Maybe if he watched the Port of Entry a little closer instead of his computer screen there wouldn’t be 11 million illegals here. Just sayin.”

Then get a job in his section and show them how it’s done if you’re do all-fired good at it.

Your bleating reminds me of John McCain in the last few days of the 2008 campaign, when he plaintively asserted that he knew ‘how to get Bin Laden.’

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Half brain: “Maybe if he watched the Port of Entry a little closer instead of his computer screen there wouldn’t be 11 million illegals here”

The reason there are 11 million illegals here is because American capital wanted those borders nice and porous, before the issue became a cultural-war issue after the economic downturn. They wanted it that way, and that’s why in the 1990s American big business, working through one of the two big business capitalist US political parties, under Bill Clinton, got NAFTA and other similar trade policies green-lighted with minimal real public dialogue over the objections and warnings of people all across the political spectrum.

So if you’ve got a problem with 11 million illegals, take it up with your capitalist ruling elite who moved ahead with policies that made it inevitable without much concern for whether people like you liked it or not.

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the other half of your brain 11:55
the news of cell phones and tablets has not arrived in
your neck of the woods I see….

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Great column. It looks like, walks like, and quacks like a duck, and there is just no way around it. Will it be fixed? I see we now have a Pub/Con super majority in the Senate, which is not great news for any one in Georgia, so who knows?

Kyle’s article about it last week pretty much just summed it all up by saying that if laws are being broken, we have prosecutors you can report that to. That is true about many laws that are violated, but a law narrowly written, with language that it shall be against the law to provide any information about how it is being executed or enforced (that would be a red flag to most people), and with the intent to facilitate “illegal” results, as your article so clearly and devastatingly pointed out, is a law that needs to be changed. It is not law that needs a “double down” with increased funding, which is unfortunately so Gold Dome, regardless of the party in power at any given the time.

Like so much that is done there, this was narrow legislation to create a narrow benefit for a narrow interest group. . Hopefully, ethics reform will take deep root in the coming months and the culture there will finally begin to improve, so that Georgia can begin to improve as as state for all of its citizens.

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barking frog

February 6th, 2013
11:59 am
the other half of your brain 11:55
the news of cell phones and tablets has not arrived in
your neck of the woods I see….

Froggy, And the tooth fairy is coming tonight.

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the other half of your brain
Froggy, And the tooth fairy is coming tonight.
…………………………………………………….
I have no need to know of your nighttime activities……

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Is it lunch time yet?

I wanna see sfd eat 13 eggs!!

SFD SFD SFD!

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T. O. Half — “Joey, I’m retired and don’t need another job”

Clearly you already have another one — counting illegals.

BTW, were you going to say anything when you saw those 11 million entering the country, or did you just keep your mouth shut because ‘they have people to take care of all that?’

“as I have done fairly well for myself.”

So you say. I see no reason to believe you or trust anything you’ve said here today.

“I love the way you libs stick together and then to compare me to a war hero is an honor”

No, I’m comparing you unfavorably to a desperate old man who was desperately trying to keep from losing an election. If you want to call him a war hero, that’s jake with me, but it wasn’t the war hero who was jabbering about ‘oh, I know how to get Bin Laden’ in the last few days of the campaign — when it became obvious that he was going to lose.

“sorry I can’t say the same about you.”

You say a lot of things without merit. What’s it to me if you choose to keep your yap shut for a change?

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And the tooth fairy is coming tonight.

Maybe she’ll just be breathing hard.

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Paul

I posted the information from GOAL earlier, and even their site says they have voluntary recommendations on the program. I’ve seen nothing that shows a concrete or defined income cap. With the way the legislations makes it criminal to release information, I don’t think we’ll ever see that information either.

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“You’ll always lose that argument with liberals. They want every child to receive the exact same education in identical schools”

You lie

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Brosephus

That Texas politics comparison to Georgia politics? Sometimes it’s the difference between the smell of week-old garbage and ten-day-old garbage.

RB from Gwinnett

“You’ll always lose that argument with liberals. They want every child to receive the exact same education in identical schools”

You calling Texas a liberal-controlled, Democratic state? Really?

Our state constitution guarantees pretty much just that. Just had a major court case decided that said Texas lawmakers were violating the law and constitution by not ensuring equitable funding and resources between districts.

One more bumper sticker slogan bites the dust.

Until next time -

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So, all of these posts and articles and references to sites……have never ever ever made any reference to income other than mine, seriously, are you kidding me.

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In Kayaker’s Link: http://www.cfcsra.org/Resources/391.pdf
it says “How will a student qualify?
Students must be Georgia residents enrolled in a Georgia secondary or primary public school or
eligible to enroll. Scholarships are awarded on a sliding scale based on the availability of funds, the
annual household income of applicant families, and household size. Income is verified by income tax
returns and/or other documentation. In order for a child to receive a scholarship in any amount, total
household income cannot exceed $85,000.

But in reading the actual bill; http://ideateedu.org/GA%20Tuition%20Tax%20Credit%20Bill%20HB%201133.pdf
An individual taxpayer shall be allowed a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter
25 for qualified education expenses as follows:
26 (1) In the case of a single individual or a head of household, the actual amount expended
27 or $1,000.00 per tax year, whichever is less; or
28 (2) In the case of a married couple filing a joint return, the actual amount expended or
29 $2,500.00 per tax year, whichever is less.
. . .
23 (g) In order for the taxpayer to claim the student scholarship organization tax credit under
24 this Code section, a letter of confirmation of donation issued by the student scholarship
25 organization to which the contribution was made shall be attached to the taxpayer´s tax
26 return. The letter of confirmation of donation shall contain the taxpayer´s name, address,
27 tax identification number, the amount of the contribution, the date of the contribution, and
28 the amount of the credit.
29 (h)(1) No credit shall be allowed under this Code section with respect to any amount
30 deducted from taxable net income by the taxpayer as a charitable contribution to a bona
31 fide charitable organization qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
32 Code.
33 (2) The amount of any scholarship received by an eligible student or eligible
34 pre-kindergarten student shall be excluded from taxable net income for Georgia income
35 tax purposes

But it has NO $85,000 limit showing anywhere in the document (even searching for “85″ comes up with no results.

Odd.

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Christian Conservative

Isn’t time-out over yet?

Hope you got that mote out of your eye okay -

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L. Dude — “But it has NO $85,000 limit showing anywhere in the document (even searching for “85″ comes up with no results.”

“Odd.”

Could Kayaker be looking at an archived version of that page? An old version that’s still in his browser cache?

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Please the education system in Georgia is behind the nation. You don’t want smart Voters do you in Georgia ?

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“Seems to me that the foundation of this comment is that all money belongs to the state”

Nope. Just the money you owe in taxes. There’s nothing in what you quoted to justify a determination that ALL money belongs to the state. You just made that part up out of whole cloth.

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Paul

Way off topic but something I think I’d get a rise out of you with…

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/teamrank/2013/all/all

Guess who’s #1????

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Brosephus – 12:09

Looked

Could not find it

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indigo

Let’s just say that I probably have more confidence in genetics than you’d probably ever guess.

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@Jay, while research doesn’t support the “government takes a serious hit” claim, there is much we agree with in your post. Though it is important to remember that not all SSOs operate the same, and many are doing great work. You’re right in stating that the current law does little to ensure accountability and less to provide real choices for kids who need them most. That’s precisely why we at Arete Scholars Fund designed a highly transparent program that exclusively targets families eligible for free and reduced lunch.

In less than three years, Arete has awarded more than 2,300 scholarships worth $11 million to more than 1,100 low-income students. In 2011-12, nearly 40% of Scholars lived below the federal poverty line, 78% were minority, and the average scholarship family earned gross income of less than $28,000 annually. You can read our latest annual report for more details (aretescholars.org/annual-reports-audits).

And the opportunities are making a difference academically and socially in the lives of Georgia kids. While much of our evidence is anecdotal at this point – though no less compelling – we’ve begun a multi-phase research initiative that will help quantify the impact on kids, schools and the state budget. Phase 1 was a more subjective parental satisfaction survey and the results were overwhelmingly positive (read more here: http://bit.ly/Ql9ca8). As we move forward, we’re also implementing a number of standards to measure the effectiveness of our participating schools.

Research from other states indicates that tuition tax credit scholarships – when implemented wisely – are a fiscally responsible way to support public education, not dismantle it. We would love to see the program grow and serve even more students in need, but not before cleaning up the law and eliminating current abuses.

Buck Alford
Arete Scholars Fund

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Note to TaxPayer @ 8:21 a.m. When Chattahoochee High School opened in north Fulton county in 1991, that was not its originally chosen name. Its original name was John’s Creek High School. However, it was discovered at the last minute that while Mr. John (don’t recall his first name) was a prominent citizen and leader in his day, and was a fine and upstanding citizen, he was a slave owner. Ironically, the whole city is named John’s Creek, and that is as it should be, and as it should have been with the high school.

So, I must be a dyed in the wool racist who misses slavery? No, not at all. But I am very strongly opposed to the PC crowd’s practice of “presentism” (now there’s an “ism” for you), which is passed off these days as the study of history, but which is actually antithetical to the scholarly study of that hugely important subject — a subject that does not get the respect and attention that we as a nation need to give it.

Presentism is simply the study of and interpretation of history and historical events through the eyes of perfect, 20/20 hind sight. It is sloppy and lazy scholarship because it allows the interpretation of historical events utilizing modern information, ideas, social codes, mores, scientific facts, and cultural advancements not in place during the time or events being studied. It basically makes history a study of how what our ancestors and predecessors were clearly doing wrong by modern day standards, thereby creating warm and fuzzy feel good moments (which the PC crowd loves) by applying our now morally superior judgments.

The real study of history requires work and research. It requires an effort to understand the times in which historical figures were living and what cultural, social, political, economic, and cultural forces were impacting them. Clearly, slavery is a morally corrupt system. While that was also known during Mr. John’s time, it was not universally condemned in America, and many tried to rationalize its existence. The issue dated back the earliest days of the Republic, with slave owners such as Washington and Jefferson agonizing over how to deal with it and keep the fragile union between the northern and southern colonies – critical to whether America would survive or not.

For better or for worse, right or wrong, at that time, the south’s entire economic system rested on slavery just as economy now rests on carbon based fuels. If the government said that starting on March 1, it shall be unlawful for any American to use carbon based fuel for any reason, what do you think might happen? Perhaps many people would disobey that law, and perhaps even rebel against the government.

The point is simply this. Lazy and sloppy scholarship and convenient PC presentism, and modern day 20/20 holier than thou judgments made by people with no clue about the nature of the times, people, and events that they are so perfectly judging, will increasingly become the rationale for changing the name of parks, streets, cities, counties, etc. And calling these people “adults” is not exactly a proper use of the word.

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captguitarman,

Using your logic, I’m sure you can find evidence of some native American occupants of said “John’s Creek” land whom more aptly deserve rights to name said land. Then again, you seem to prefer something linked to a slave owner. Why such bias.

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On and off topic at the same time:

Aquagirl – “We don’t tax for schools on the assumption everyone will take their turn, so to speak, even though it usually works out that way. We tax because an educated populace benefits everyone, period.”

Years ago, I used to be in the camp of “I don’t have children in school, why should I have to pay taxes to support public schools”. I felt I was paying for something I didn’t use.

Then I sat back and read an exchange on this blog on that topic. I think it was JHM, or Bro, or dB exchanging with a right leaning poster. There was no name calling, snark, or insults.

That exchange caused me to examine my thoughts and position on childless or people with adult children. It helped me realize that we ALL benefit from an educated society.

I said all that to say, although that person on the left held a different view than I, they were able to influence my thinking and bring me over to their side. Same with the healthcare debate.

There are people on this blog that may have a great point on a topic. A point that could some with differing views to reconsider their position. BUT that point will never be read by that person because of the “CONS/LIBS S*CK MONKEY AZZ AND THEY ARE THE CAUSE OF ALL OUR PROBLEMZZZZ!!!!” style of posting (DannyX, getalife, kayaker, RB, Taxpayer, FINN, UNCLE SAM come to mind). When you start your arguement with an insult, do you think your point will receive the same consideration as your insult.

When you want your wife/husband to consider your POV, do you start off with an insult?

/off soapbox

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oops- “A point that could some with differing views ”

should be “A point that could CAUSE some with differing views “

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The problem is the state needs the revenue, the roads are crumbling, the teachers are furloughed and the state ows the fed 600 mil already for kissing businesses butt. Tax credits for privates schools is bs.

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TBG @ 12:49

Amen!!! I’ll say that I’m guilty of using descriptive adjectives when posting, but I try to make a salient point before I devolve like the others around me.

————————–

Paul

I appreciate the offer, and I’ll keep that in mind.

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tbg,

Perhaps you should wait for me to opine on the subject before attacking me.

Thanks.

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“4.5 billion ‘alien Earths’ may populate Milky Way”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/02/06/45-billion-alien-earths-may-populate-milky-way/#ixzz2K90I6JsE

I hope they don’t start coming here as illegal aliens !

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would you rather have a bunch of bored teenagers hanging around?

EEEEEK!

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captguitarman:

Excellent post ! Most liberals are incapable of understanding or viewing events/history from the perspective of the times in which they occurred.

By the way, it is my understanding that John Rogers (Johns Creek) was a great, great uncle of Will Rogers.

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guy

February 6th, 2013
1:27 pm

To those who don’t like all of this: move on to the state of your choice. Bitch,bitch,bitch!!!!!!
.
.
.
.
I suppose the cowards way out is ok for some.

I suggest we all stay and make it better!

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Mr Digits

“Most liberals are incapable of understanding or viewing events/history from the perspective of the times in which they occurred”

.
.
.
piffle
.

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Logical Dude:

Ah ……………….. sonar to bridge, sonar to bridge …….. range ……….. mark !

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Good Fight:

“Says the poster who cannot comprehend that the Founding Fathers were radical liberals and progressives standing up to “conservative views” of the time.”

You mean those “liberal” Founding Fathers who owned slaves, kept their women in the kitchen and gays in the closet ? THOSE “Founding Fathers”.

LOL !

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Yep, those are the ones! Thank for proving your lack of comprehension.

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TBS
Translation: If anyone doesn’t view a particular event from the same political perspective and narrative that I have, they are wrong.
………………………………………………………..
keep that in mind if you want to intercourse with me……

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guy

February 6th, 2013
1:46 pm

Granny, then use your time to make things better instead of bitching and using sarcastic remarks to others. Go for it,girl! Tell ‘em cabbage,you got the head!
.
.
.
Grandly able to multitask..I do have societal “interests” that I work on and for.

ANd you?

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Scout – 1:41

Many people in that time period owned slaves. Almost all the women were in the kitchen and virtually all the gays were in the closet.

The Founding Fathers were quite liberal and progressive compared to the Loyalists who wanted a status quo with England and The English King.

It’s clear you know little or nothing about this period of American Hisory.

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“I think someone or ones are prompting them”

I’ve taken to calling it “WORM brain” (WORM = write once, read many)

Once it’s written into their brains it can’t ever be changed, only repeated and repeated and repeated

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“4.5 billion ‘alien Earths’ may populate Milky Way”

It took God 73,972,602 years to create them all!

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Cookman waging a blog war on those rich elitists kids in private school……

Nope. He’s made that clear if you read and engaged your brain. He and others have a problem with tax money being used to support their kids in private school.

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Below is a (half arse) cut and paste. The first is obviously a calculus problem while the second was found by google searching “online college sample math problem”.

We have a technology and education gap. The result of this problem is a earnings/net worth gap. The solution is not more gov’t money as, guess what, the problem gets worse not better.

I would rather my kid sit on a bus for 3 hours and attend 5 hours of school v. wasting 8 hours on a non performing school.

Alpharetta is now known as “Alpha Ghetto” Beyond the obvious racism, as a parent, actually like it. My kids are assured of diversity, they see other kids economically less sufficient, all said they don’t grow up ignorant white crackers.

Let c > 0 be a constant. Give a complete description, with proof, of the set of all continuous functions
f : R ! R such that f(x) = f(x2 + c) for all x 2 R. Note that R denotes the set of real numbers.
B5-2009 Let f : (1;1) ! R be a differentiable function such that
f0(x) =x2 (f(x))2×2/((f(x))2 + 1) for all x > 1.

Jessica deposits $300 into a savings
account that pays an annual interest rate
of 2%, compounded twice a year. How
much money will Jessica have in her
account at the end of one year?
A $304.00
B $306.00
C $306.03
D $312.12

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Simple solution – eliminate all deductions and credits! People are probably sick of me beating the same old drum, but think how gloriously simple it would be if the IRS and GA Revenue stopped using the tax code to manipulate society. (Income minus a per household member exemption)* a reasonable (progressive is okay) tax rate. Doesn’t matter if you….own or rent…send your kids to daycare or stay home….give to charity or not. We wouldn’t have this silly argument about tax credits for donations to private schools and people whining that they should get a deduction for tuition…blah blah blah. BTW, I just wrote a check for $17k for ‘13/’14 tuition…no deduction…no scholly…and paid $3k last year in property taxes….the local HS is a Top 10, but I think my son will do better in a much (much) smaller school so I have to pay for it. Stop being controlled by the tax code – no more deductions.

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Doggone/GA
And I see it differently. I see it as a prayer for a more just future that he knew he would neither see, nor be capable of providing, in his own lifetime
………………………………………………………………………….
and as a wealthy landowner and slave owner he was
incapable of starting the ball rolling by doing as sfd
suggested ?

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Doggone/GA
Yes. Your are not taking into account the social and political climate of his time, and in his place. Not everyone who is capable of pointing out a better path is able to actually take it.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
actually, I am taking that into account and pointing out he was just a whiny
hypocrite unwilling to surrender his life of luxury…

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Doggone/GA
Even a hypocrite can show others a better way to do something.
…………………………………………………………………..
actually he only told them, if he had shown them he would have
my respect and history might have been much different…..

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AngryRedMarsWoman

February 6th, 2013
2:25 pm
Simple solution – eliminate all deductions and credits!
………………………………………………………………………
Simpler solution – eliminate income tax.

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barking frog

February 6th, 2013
2:38 pm

It’s fair to say that everyone is a hypocrite at some time or another…no news there…we sure spend a lot of energy pointing that out…

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DannyX

February 6th, 2013
1:15 pm
“When you start your arguement with an insult, do you think your point will receive the same consideration as your insult.”

You do know that more often than not you belong to the same group you called out don’t you, That Black Guy?
________________________________________
Really?

Are you saying that my first post on a topic usually starts with an insult?

Really?

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Stevie Ray
Some are hypocritical on a grander scale than others and
influence society much more, pointing that out is not a
waste of energy.

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@barking frog 2:49 pm “Simpler solution – eliminate income tax.”

I certainly would not call myself an expert on the subject, but having read quite a bit on both sides of that issue (including some insightful analyses in Jay’s comments section) I am not convinced that a tax based on consumption/sales would be both a sufficient and “fair” source of government revenue. Always happy though to hear what you (and others here) have to say on the topic….I have a very open mind.

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barking frog

February 6th, 2013
2:49 pm

AngryRedMarsWoman

February 6th, 2013
2:25 pm
Simple solution – eliminate all deductions and credits!
………………………………………………………………………
Simpler solution – eliminate income tax.

Now we’re getting some where! I like it!

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barking frog

February 6th, 2013
2:56 pm

Well the point I’m making is that relative to politics, the same wheel goes around and around as no new strategies really exist. They are re-tread at the convenience of either party. Virtually, every subject ultimately finds both switching sides..

It can be useful in debate but pointing it out doesn’t necessarily mean more credibility for the pointer outer…

Of course, I’m the special exception:-)

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AngryRedMarsWoman
Georgia already has a corporate net worth tax for corporations that
primarily hold non income producing property which could be used
for individuals also in combination with the sales tax. No credits or
deductions or exemptions.

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Stevie Ray
pointer outer credibility is not something I strive for.

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Thomas: Alpharetta is now known as “Alpha Ghetto” Beyond the obvious racism, as a parent, actually like it.

While I applaud the embracing of diversity and its benefits, I don’t know anyone who refers to Alpharetta as Alpha Ghetto. Let’s stop associating the “ghetto” as being “diverse”. Often it is not.

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won’t happen as we are of the lawyers, by the lawyers and for the lawyers…heaven forbid any of them have to find a new livelihood.

You might be more worried about Ernst & Young, H&R Block, CPAs and many other often non-lawyers involved in the tax industry.

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Keep Up
You might be more worried about Ernst & Young, H&R Block, CPAs and many other often non-lawyers involved in the tax industry.
…………………………………………………………………………….
Yep. They have been successful in stopping the IRS from
creating a usable interface for filing tax returns.

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Doggone/GA
and yet, here we still are, one of, if the THE, longest lived democratic political system in history. And ne was instrumental, along with many others, of bringing that into being.
………………………………………………………………………….
So was the King of England but i’m not going to praise his actions.

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I wonder how many SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS! send their kids to private schools.

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Keep Up the Good Fight!

February 6th, 2013
3:22 pm

Absolutely…all tax related services…it makes no sense that BO doesn’t have a spine to push cuts anywhere.

The sequestration was his bright idea along with others.

Penetta is full of crap. I have zero clue how our security would be compromised by such modest cuts. Yeah I guess some jobs may be threatened but someone is going to have to sacrifice….

Heck we can’t even audit the defense department….how do we know what they are really spending and suggesting that there is not at least 10% waste is ridiculous.

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Keep

Damn straight!

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The sequestration was his bright idea along with others

Well I could be wrong but I suspect it was not his idea, he wanted to cut a deal. And of course, you are blotivating about “spine to push tax cuts” while ignoring the cuts already approved but typical for you. Why don’t you start with the truth and have some credibility.

As for cutting govt waste, all for it. I say hire the auditors, judges, prosecutes, and law enforcement to go after those who try to defraud the govt. Update regulations and systems to identify and cut waste.

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Keep

I see that we have been invaded by a JERRY SPRINGER SHOW guest. To qualify for that honor, merely type “president trillions” over and over again every day.

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Lucifer

I took a look at the Paul Broun info on Maddow.

And these guys are worried about Sharia law when they promote minority views of some Christians as the guiding principles of how they conduct their politics?!!?

Amazing….

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“There are no good options” to deal with the situation, he continued, saying 46,000 department jobs would be at risk and more damaging measures in coming months could include:

– Furloughing as many as 800,000 civilian workers for up to 22 days;

– Cutting back on Army training and maintenance, which would reduce readiness of combat brigades outside Afghanistan;

– Shrinking naval operations; and,

– Reducing Air Force flying hours and weapons systems maintenance.

“This is not a game. This is reality,” Panetta said, his voice rising. “These steps would seriously damage a fragile American economy and they would degrade our ability to respond to crisis precisely at a time of rising instability across the globe.”CNN

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Kam, “President Trillions” is one of those dog whistle calls for the bumper stick crowd that attend those shows. Its like WND first calling Obama’s wedding ring a sign of his “secret muslim” background and then WND now claiming its “secret gay”.

Yell “Benghazi” in the mirror 3 times and Oirly Tates and Donald Trump will be at your door in a week.

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DannyX

February 6th, 2013
3:11 pm
“Are you saying that my first post on a topic usually starts with an insult?

Really?”

TBG, you are certainly no saint around here, – never said I was. What you don’t find me doing is the “You LIBS are _________”. I may go after a *particular* person because of something they posted, but not a broad brush insult of a group because of a political difference.

you can be just as insulting as the rest of us. – See above.

In fact when I first started to post here regularly I thought you were one of the worst offenders. – You are intitled to your opinion. I disagree.

For the most part I stopped reading what you wrote. – As is your right.

This blog is full of crazy people like me, I know that when I post here that I will have to put up with them. – Not me. I don’t “put up with them”, I ignore them. But THAT is my point. They may make the most salient, thought provoking point, that could change someone’s POV, but it won’t get read by that person because they have chosen to place the poster on “permanent ignore”.

I take the good with the bad. – That’s your option. *I* don’t waste my time straining through S**t to find pearls. I ignore those that offer s**t and read the ones that offer pearls.

I’ve had one post removed and have never been given a yellow or red card, how about you? – No removals or cards.

Botton line is, you are an adult and can post how you like.

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You can lead a jackass to the Budget Control Act of 2011, but you can’t make him read and comprehend it. — Thomas Jefferson.

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“would degrage our ability to respond to crisis”

Translation

“This would degrade our ability to rush to the rescue of some mid-east country, rescue them from themselves, and teach them the values of truth, justice and the American way, at a large cost of blood and treasure, of course”.

sigh. what a pity.

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What exactly has he cut and in which spending areas?

Congress controls the checkbook, sport.

Or did you forget that you were schooled on this very point yesterday.

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Stevie

But this guy is a big spender – not in historical terms

and taking big risks – big job, big risks, big benefits,

and is politically incapable of making hard decisions – aren’t big risks hard decisions?

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Kam – Check your civics. Congress only controls spending when there is a Dem POTUS and a Rep House. When Bush was POTUS it was all his fault!

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” When Bush was POTUS”

There was no fiscal conservatism.

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When Bush was POTUS it was all his fault!

Not intended to be a factual statement.

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getalife: “There was no fiscal conservatism.”

Fiscal conservatism?

That’s what Democrats are for.

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Which part of there was no fiscal conservatism did you not understand.

Cuts lose jobs job killers.

We want unemployment down not up.

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As I said Stevie, you continue to be one of the Oirly Tates posters. …. brilliant in your own mind.

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Paul, I agree. Across the board cuts are usually brain dead cuts that fail in actual evaluation and could cut some programs that might save millions. Its dumb budgeting.

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I don’t ever recall getting schooled by you…

Do you recall that I never asserted that I have?

Again — Congress controls the checkbook, sport.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now you’re catching on.

I don’t have trouble understanding this. It’s the Galtian randroids that seem to be in the hero worship biz.

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‘We want unemployment down not up.”

unless you’re a anti-merkan surrender monkey terrist that
hates us fer our freedums heheh

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I think full employment should trigger the cuts.

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Paul

February 6th, 2013
4:32 pm

Wow, so you guys don’t think that across the board we can’t find 10% wasteful spending in each and every category?

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Its amazing bookman’s buffoons stay on here all day for a topic that no one really cares about….

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Since the start of fiscal year 2011, President Barack Obama has signed into law approximately $2.4 trillion of deficit reduction for the years 2013 through 2022. Nearly three-quarters of that deficit reduction is in the form of spending cuts, while the remaining one-quarter comes from revenue increases. As a result of that deficit reduction, the projected rise in debt levels from today through 2022 has decreased by nearly 10 full percentage points of gross domestic product. In fact, under today’s policies, debt levels in 2022—as a share of GDP—will be only slightly higher than they are expected to be by the end of next year.

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AmericaShrugged, you need to give your “Don’t blame Bush” speech to Republicans. It was the Republicans that kept Bush away from the Republican convention, not wanting to remind the public what a disaster he was.

Lets see Republicans embrace the Bush years. They ran from his record and certainly didn’t defend it as just a spot of bad luck.

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Keep Up the Good Fight!

February 6th, 2013
4:44 pm

Great, how much of those cuts have taken place already?

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Well Stevie, again I can lead but you must read and then engage your brain and try to comprehend. You do know that the deficit this year is well under a trillion and is anticipated to be under $435 billion next year.

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“Not quite the mess he was presented on his second!”

Really? How so?

818,000 net job losses January 2009
157,000 net jobs gained January 2013

Every single economic indicator has improved significantly.

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7.9% unemployment, 8.8 million on disability (and growing), GDP growth expected at 1.4%, $17 trillion debt, 7 million to lose health insurance BECAUSE of ACA.

Every single economic indicator has improved significantly?

Would you like to try that one more time?

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Down in Albany,5:05,

This might also include the now 1.3T dollar obligation that the taxpayer will owe to Bozocare over the next decade. GAO stated today that instead of the original 940B, the bill would be more like 1.3T dollars and is expected to rise. By 2020, who knows?

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Folks just want a good education for their children. Spend too much time in a public school and you might just become a democrat – we can see what that leads to – reelecting near idiots and an insatiable desire for free stuff.

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I have participated in the GA Scholarship program and am proud to do so.

First, my 3 kids do attend a private, Christian school.

Second, NONE, yes NONE of the funds that I receive a tax credit for go to any of my kids.

Third, my family pays taxes that are imposed in multiple ways, including property, income, sales, gas, etc… – Yes the taxes go to the state of Georgia.

NOTE: Education is a leading expense in Georgia. The taxes that my family pays actually help to fund PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION. Interestingly enough, I am paying / contributing to the programs that my family does NOT participate in.

Sadly, my family and the other families in Georgia that pay thousands of additional dollars in taxes every year and do not use the public school system have never received a THANK YOU from the state for our contribution.

Questions: Would you be better served to address the billions of dollars that are wasted in the Georgia school systems? Why do projects, capital expenditure continuously go over projected budgets? How many more practice / sports fields need turf? How many more concession stands need replacement?

Finally, if a small percentage is using the funds incorrectly, shame on them. Don’t condemn those that are contributing legally and their school is using the fund properly – the purpose is to help those that need assistance.

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