Libertarian Initiative to get State out of Education

"Performance Accountability Voucher for Education"

Jack Hickey, longtime taxpayer's advocate in San Mateo county, recently received the go-ahead from the Attorney General to begin signature gathering for his Performance Accountability Voucher for Education, a proposed Constitutional Amendment.

According to Hickey, "The purpose of the measure is to restore full responsibility and authority to families for the education of their children." He asks " Does anyone out there disagree that parents have a fundamental obligation to feed, clothe and shelter their family? Why should feeding their mind be excluded?"

Compulsory Attendance Laws, which PAVE2000 abolishes "up-front", have lowered the self-esteem of parents and students alike. They have created prison-like atmospheres and war-zones in many schools. Their existence guaranteed the failure of Government Schools. They have no place in a free society.

Hickey makes no bones about the fact that PAVE2000 will phase-out the state role in K-12 education. "There are two time frames in the implementation of PAVE2000. The first phases out the Public schools in five years by selling publicly-owned educational properties in the state. The second phases out all state funding for education vouchers in 20 years."

"PAVE2000 removes the inequity of forcing childless taxpayers to subsidize the education of others." says Hickey.

According to a Fiscal Analysis from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, sales of public schools would generate revenues which could be in excess of $100 billion. School related bonded indebtedness would be eliminated, providing relief for local property taxpayers.

A key element of the proposal is the Performance Voucher itself. Limited to $4,000 maximum in the first year. Initially these vouchers would reward families whose children demonstrated proven educational attainments, regardless of the means used. Complete family independence would gradually be restored in the following 20 years.

The Fiscal Analysis further states that "...the measure also requires the Legislature to reduce the state sales taxes by the amount of the reduction in the cost of funding K-12 education, and that the "Gann Expenditure Limit" be reduced by an equivalent amount. Given the amount currently provided to public K-12 education, the state's sales tax would essentially be eliminated
over the 20-year period."

Jack Hickey envisions Charter School entrepreneurs as primary facilitators in the transition to a "market based " education system. And, he says "The LPSM is stepping up it's recruiting efforts to elect school board members who will support the transition.

PAVE2000 maintains a website, www.PAVE2000.com, where detailed information
is available, and from which petitions can be downloaded.

Contact: John J. "Jack" Hickey, LPSM Chair
(650) 368-5722