What Is Proposal I?

The State Board of Canvassers agreed in mid-August to the following language for Proposal 1:

A proposal to amend the Constitution to permit the state to provide indirect support to students attending nonpublic pre-elementary, elementary and secondary schools; allow the use of tuition vouchers in certain school districts, and require enactment of teacher testing laws.

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

1. Eliminate the ban on indirect support of students attending nonpublic schools through tuition vouchers, credits, tax benefits, exemptions or deductions, subsidies, grants or loans of public monies or property.

2. Allow students to use tuition vouchers to attend nonpublic schools in districts with a graduation rate under 2/3 in 1998-1999 and districts approving tuition vouchers through school board action or a public vote. Each voucher would be limited to 1/2 of state average per-pupil public school revenue.

3. Require teacher testing on academic subjects in public schools and in nonpublic schools redeeming tuition vouchers.

4. Adjust minimum per-pupil funding from 1994-1995 to 2000-2001 level.

Should this proposal be adopted? Yes or No