Texas DISers...need some help here

[TheOtherVillainess]

I think there is a program in Texas where the state will pay (through vouchers or whatever) for your child to go to a private school if you cannot afford it and do not wish to send him/her to the local public school. I need to find out more about this program and how to use it but I am so unsure of where to start! There is a Montessori School in nearby Frisco (close to where I live) and when James is old enough I would LOVE to send him there. There is also a Primrose School (I think that's like Montessori) about 15 min from here.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

TOV

 

[KathyTX]

I'm not sure I understand... you're planning to be on welfare/public assistance when your unborn child is old enough to start school? And you want to be sure he attends a private school rather than the public schools, which we are all already paying for?

Why on earth wouldn't you plan to work hard and get a decent job in the years between now and then so you can afford the school of your choice?

Also, perhaps you don't realize that the public schools in your area are highly rated.

 

[TigerBear]

I thought vouchers were only available to students who attend low income/low performing schools. Am I wrong?

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

I'm not sure I understand... you're planning to be on welfare/public assistance when your unborn child is old enough to start school? And you want to be sure he attends a private school rather than the public schools, that we are all already paying for?

Good question.

Why on earth wouldn't you plan to work hard and get a decent job in the years between now and then so you can afford the school of your choice?

Even better question.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I think that School Voucher Legislation in Texas has been proposed a couple of times, but it has never passed.

Are you talking about for daycare assistance? Most Montessori programs don't start until the child is 3yo. There are daycare assistance programs available, but they are mostly for very low income parents. My middle son attended a Montessori school and it did have scholarships available. But they usually went to very low income families with a parent in college or some sort of job training -- working to get to the point where they would be able to afford the tuition without assistance.

 

[Planogirl]

I've never heard of any kind of assistance so that a child can go to private school. Besides, the area you describe consists of very strong public schools so there probably wouldn't be much need for such a program.

 

[janette]

It is like Toby's friend said, there is day care assistance through the welfare / social services that is income based. Not all day cares will accept the vouchers as they usually pay a lower fee than the market.

There have been voucher programs submitted but not passed and then they would only help people who live where the public schools are low performing. Frisco is not considered a low performing school.

Some private schools offer scholarship programs, some are need based but I wouldn't expect that Primrose would have any type of scholarship program. A Montessori program might as they are usually individually owned.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Besides, the area you describe consists of very strong public schools

I don't trust the public schools. I grew up in the Mid-Cities area and the schools there were HORRIBLE! I don't want my child (whom I'm hoping will be extremely bright, rather like his mother) to be stifled by overcrowded classrooms, teachers who are overburdened by what too much work and too little time and other such atrocities that I personally experienced growing up in the public school system.

I think that School Voucher Legislation in Texas has been proposed a couple of times, but it has never passed.

This is what I need information on, Toby. I know I've heard of it but I don't know anything about it and any information about it or where I can find out about it would be extremely helpful.

Most Montessori programs don't start until the child is 3yo.

I know. I figure you can never be TOO prepared when it comes to your child's education. As far as daycare..well..we won't put him into that unless it becomes absolutely necessary. My MIL (goddess bless her!) has agreed to quit her full time teaching job and go back to sub teaching so that she can babysit for us because there is no way in heck DH and I can afford local daycare. It's far too expensive. Besides...I've heard that kids in daycare are sick far more often than kids who are not and that's not something I want to deal with personally. I know one of our neighbors has a 6 mos old who he is home with CONSTANTLY because she is always getting a cold or an ear infection or something from one of the kids at their daycare. I mean I know kids get sick but the number of times she has gotten sick since she came home from the hospital is ridiculous.

working to get to the point where they would be able to afford the tuition without assistance

I have no idea where our finances will be in 3 years time but I do know that right now (which is what I'm going on) there is no way we could afford to send him to Montessori, which is where I'd like him to go. I really like the way they focus on more than just the typical stuff you'd find in any public school around here, especially the focus on the arts.

I'm not sure I understand... you're planning to be on welfare/public assistance when your unborn child is old enough to start school? And you want to be sure he attends a private school rather than the public schools, that we are all already paying for?

I am not planning on being on welfare anytime soon, no. I'm not rich, but I ain't no Welfare Wilma either, thank goodness. I can't even get WIC, I'm so not-poor-but-not-middle-class-either. Which kinda sucks because it would really help. I know how expensive formula is.

Oh well...if anybody knows anything about what I'm talking about, let me know with a PM or something. Thanks guys.

TOV

 

[KathyTX]

Oh, I see... not on welfare, but you want public assistance to pay for private school. That sounds like welfare to me.

There are many, many Frisco children who are managing to excel in the public schools there. If you and your child are as bright as you would have us believe, I'm sure he'll do just fine there.

Do you know what the primary influence on a child's successful education is? It's not the quality of the school. It's the involvement and the encouragement and the furthering of education at home by the parent.

Rather than looking for free money, you'd do your child a much bigger favor by looking for a better job than the food service industry you're in, and by reading everything you can on early childhood education so that you'll be ready to be an active part of his education from day one.

 

[janette]

There is no program in TX, like Toby's friend said it didn't pass. Even if the bill had passed you wouldn't be eligible in Frisco ISD. I was watching it some because I've had my youngest in private schools at times and might consider it again later. I also would not be eligible in LISD so it would do me no good.

You could move to some areas of Dallas ISD if the bill passes. There are some low performing schools there and you have some different options.

Edidted to add: Private school tuition in this area starts at about $10,000 a year for tuition only. Even if vouchers are in place they will not go very far at most of the better private schools. Most of the schools also have admission testing and other requirements.

 

[Planogirl]

My son's teachers have plenty of time for their students (we're actually in Frisco now), sometimes too much time. I'm quite happy with the educational system here.

As for public assistance, I believe that you can only qualify if you're in a low income bracket.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I don't actually live in Frisco ISD. I live in Little Elm ISD, and from what I've heard, that particular ISD stinks.

If you and your child are as bright as you would have us believe, I'm sure he'll do just fine there.

Seeing as he's not even born yet I'm not sure how bright he'll be, but one can always have hope,right, Kathy?

Oh, I see... not on welfare, but you want public assistance to pay for private school. That sounds like welfare to me.

I don't want welfare...only what's best for my soon to be born son.

Rather than looking for free money, you'd do your child a much bigger favor by looking for a better job than the food service industry you're in

I've been looking for almost a year now. I made some bad job decisions (and who hasn't?) and it's got me stuck right now but every moment I can I am looking for something else, a way out of this craphole job that I'm in that's leading me absolutely nowhere.

TOV

 

[Planogirl]

I don't know much about Little Elm but it is becoming a great place to live from what I hear.

It is tough to find a decent job in this area! They SAY that the market is improving but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Well - I'm all for having goals for our children.

I honestly don't understand however why your MIL would quit a teaching career to provide daycare so you can work at Sonic. It just seems to me that her salary has got to be 3 to 4 times what you could possibly make in a minimum wage Food Industry Job.

It would make more sense for her to continue working at her career, while you quit, and then she could give you financial assistance with issues such as tuition if you needed it.

As for school vouchers, they have passed in a couple of states but like others have said they are mainly reserved for students from School Districts that are very low performing. I don't know what else to tell you other than contact your local State Representatives to see how they stand on the issue, and then vote accordingly next election.

I have a son in Private School right now and I see lots of parents who make low-middle income wages. They generally are living in very small houses and making do with one very used car. It's all about priorities when it comes to money.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I don't know much about Little Elm but it is becoming a great place to live from what I hear.

It's improving. We moved in about 3 1/2 years ago and it's a lot better than what it was when we moved in, lemme tell ya whut.

It is tough to find a decent job in this area! They SAY that the market is improving but I'll believe it when I see it.

Tell me about it. It's especially hard around here if your chosen profession is Retail Sales, like mine. Like I said, I made some bad job decisions last year (and who hasn't sometime in their life) which caused me to land in this spithole job I'm in. But I'm still looking for another retail sales job that would get me outta there in a heartbeat. I would kill to have another retail job right now but the market just isn't providing. OR...and this is my own theory..just a theory mind you, nothing proven....it's entirely possible that when employers see a Food Svc job on my resume' they freak and immediately file my app in the Circular File (tm). But like I said..it's just a theory. Take it or leave it. I don't care. *shrugs*

I honestly don't understand however why your MIL would quit a teaching career to provide daycare so you can work at Sonic. It just seems to me that her salary has got to be 3 to 4 times what you could possibly make in a minimum wage Food Industry Job.

Because that's her way of giving us financial assistance without actually GIVING us money, per se, Toby. She and FIL have been extremely helpful ever since we told them we were pregnant, a lot more helpful than my own mother for certain. They have given us a lot of expensive gifts in the last few months, even so far as paying for probably 80% of my maternity wardrobe. It came from a consignment shop, but still...that's money I ended up spending on baby needs instead of myself. Also, MIL likes teaching but she's willing to give up teaching full time because she knows that she and FIL can get by on his salary and sub teaching pays pretty well in this area (or so I've been told). Almost as much as FT teaching, I think. DH and I are loathe to borrow money from them if we don't have to and so far, we've been able to make it on our own, giving up luxuries like cable, an expensive car that DH used to drive and cutting off long distance, call waiting, callblock and other phone doodads that we didn't really need so that we can save more $$$ for when he gets here. We barely go out anymore, not like we used to either, choosing to save that going o ut money on the baby. These are sacrafices we have learned to make and make gladly for the sake of our son.

Like I said...I have NO idea where our finances will be in 3-4 years time, when James is ready for preschool. It may be that in a few years, things will change, I'll get a new job, DH will get another promotion, they'll strike oil on his land in OK. Who knows? But I figured I'd better start preparing now because from what I hear, it's tough to get into a Montessori school if you don't start preparing when the child is less than a year old.

TOV

 

[dcgrumpy]

How is she going to sub if she's babysitting?

 

[janette]

You might try to find a job at the school, they pay decent for teacher aides / cafeteria help. The hours are great and you could get to know the school first hand.

Those type of jobs are great for moms with school age kids, I would love having the summers off.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

How is she going to sub if she's babysitting?

I guess I should've explained that better, grumpy. Sorry..my bad. DH and I, on average, have two days off a week. She will be babysitting on the other 3 days that we are not off. Usually, we aren't off on the same day, either, unless we specifically request a particular day off for something like a dr's appt. or whatever.

You might try to find a job at the school, they pay decent for teacher aides

I've thought about that but currently (AFAIK) neither Little Elm ISD nor Frisco ISD (the two closest two me) are hiring for TAs. I have emailed the director of the local Primrose school which is about 15 min from where I live about a TA positon and can't wait to hear what she says.

TOV

 

[janette]

Most of the Primrose schools are only for pre-school and maybe Kindergarten, they only provide after school for elementary age.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Tell me about it. It's especially hard around here if your chosen profession is Retail Sales, like mine.

So because your 'chosen profession' is retail sales, you shouldn't have to pay for your sons private school, but I should pay for it for you? Is that basically it? I would suggest you start back to school right away, get a better job, the you'll be able to pay for your son to go to any school you want. As far as I'm concerned I pay enough in taxes as it is now, I certainly don't need to be sending other people's kids to private school.