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Running head: SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEW

Superintendent Interview on School Voucher Policy
Sabrina Salmon
Capella University








Running head: SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEW
Superintendent Interview on School Voucher Policy
A combination oI Iederal and state legislation has shaped the policies and procedures Ior
public school Iunding. The Brown v. Board oI Education decision connected school Iunding
with providing equal educational opportunities. Based on the Rodriquez decision, the US
Supreme Court decided that school Iunding diIIerences are not a violation oI the Constitution
(Heise, . State courts handle school Iinance cases. Underwood ( acknowledged the
importance oI adequacy litigation Ior establishing guidelines that protect students` rights to a Iree
and appropriate education. Parental choice and competition among schools is a topic that many
have debated. Economists recognized the need Ior competition in education. Advocates oI
school choice believe iI public and private schools compete, education will improve Ior all
children. In the 199s, Oklahoma authorized public charter schools. Some government oIIicials
in Oklahoma decided that students with disabilities should have more options to obtain an
appropriate education. Representatives collaborated with other proIessionals to design House
Bill 3393. An interview oI a local superintended provided additional insight on the application
oI the policy.
InIluences and Impact oI Policy
Dr. Gloria GriIIin is the superintendent oI Millwood School District in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma. She assumed this position in 199. Dr. GriIIin has over thirty years oI experience as
an educator, assistant principal, principal, director oI secondary schools and adult education, and
as a superintendent. She is the Iirst Iemale superintendent in the district. Dr. GriIIin has
published literature on leadership behaviors and eIIective schools. She presents at local, state,
and national educational conIerences. Dr. GriIIin has a passion Ior assisting with the intellectual
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Running head: SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEW
development oI young people. During an interview, Dr. GriIIin explained that the school board
policy on school vouchers reIlects a state mandate to provide equal opportunity Ior students with
special needs.
Article V oI Oklahoma School Laws (Garrett, 1 describes the powers, duties, and
responsibility oI a local board. Each school district has an election to select a local board oI
education and the board appoints a superintendent. House Bill 3393 also known as the Lindsey
Nicole Henry Scholarship replaced the previous selI-direct care pilot program Ior students with
disabilities. This program provides scholarships Ior students with special needs. Oklahoma
Public Schools (OCPSPC recently designed a policy to describe the process Ior parents or
guardians to request a voucher Ior children with disabilities to attend a private school. Public
and private schools must collaborate and determine how students will receive an appropriate
education at the private school. The state oI Oklahoma has established statues to improve
student learning. Title 7 is the Oklahoma state statute that places a high priority on education
(7-3-1. Superintendent GriIIin stated that school districts had 'no choice in the matter (G.
GriIIin, personal communication, February 15, 11. So Iar, the Millwood District has not had
any parents to request a voucher Ior their child to attend a private school. Policy inIluences
reIlect values, morals, ethics, and public school Iunding systems.
Viewpoint oI Policy InIluences
Superintendent GriIIin believed that several inIluences contributed to the values and
morals involved in the decision-making process. Values and morals reIlect the opinions oI
politicians and constituents who support 'equal access to public education (G. GriIIin, personal
communication, February 15, 11. GriIIin stated that educators and politicians agree

Running head: SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEW
education is an important tool Ior improving the community. Government oIIicials do not want
to vote against opportunities that will improve the lives oI 'those who have a disability or a
socioeconomic disadvantage (G. GriIIin, personal communication, February 15, 11.
Superintendent GriIIin argued that there is a conIlict between the ethical component and Iunding
Ior the policy. She stated that Iunding is a potentially litigious issue Ior educational policies. Dr.
GriIIin is concerned that the benevolent background oI the policy could possibly lead to lawsuits
in the district. School board members must determine how to allocate Iunding in the event that
a student with a disability uses a voucher to transIer to a private school. She encouraged all oI
the administrators in the district to communicate with parents oI students with disabilities.
Superintendent GriIIin believed that positive relationships between school staII and parents
would decrease the likelihood that legal issues will develop. She is conIident that open and
honest communication and mediation will assist the district with preparing iI a student with
special needs will transIer to a private school (G. GriIIin, personal communication, February 15,
11. School leaders must understand the policymaking process (Fowler, 9.
Navigating the Policymaking System
Policy players include economists, members oI Congress, the Governor, the State
Department oI Education, the local School Board, the Superintendent, and parents. Economists
proposed the rationale Ior competition among schools. Parents contacted legislators and
expressed their desire Ior more choices. Members oI Congress and the Governor worked
together to develop a bill that requires school vouchers Ior students with disability. Sandy
Garrett, the State Superintendent oI Public Instruction, inIormed districts oI the requirements to
comply with House Bill 3393. The School Board designed a policy to implement the bill.
Superintendent GriIIin echoed some oI the belieIs oI Blackwell (. Both Dr. GriIIin and
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Running head: SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEW
Blackwell ( explained that it is important Ior constituents to use a variety oI 'input
methods to contact legislators (p. 1. Superintendent GriIIin is a member oI the Oklahoma
School Administrators Organization. She advocates that all school leaders contact government
oIIicials and express their concerns about issues that inIluence public education. Dr. GriIIin
explained that beIore she became a school leader she was not actively involved in politics. She
met Representative Mike Thompson at a social gathering and learned that politicians listen to
constituents and appreciate their expertise. Superintendent GriIIin has written letters and met
with government oIIicials to discuss a variety oI educational issues including bullying issues,
educator retirement Iunds, and graduation requirements. She encourages parents, teachers, and
community members to contact elected oIIicials to discuss educational issues. She clariIied that
it is important Ior government oIIicials to know that constituents Iollow political decisions and
are willing to participate in the political process. Dr. GriIIin realized that politicians might not
support an issue, but it is better to express thoughts and expectations regarding educational
policies (G. GriIIin, personal communication, February 15, 11.
Synthesis oI Research and Interview
The Oklahoma City Public Schools Policy Manual (1 created a policy to align with
the state statute that requires schools to provide a voucher Ior students with disabilities to attend
an accredited private school. Title 7 is the Oklahoma state statute that places a high priority on
education (. This statue aligns with Adam Smiths` belieI in education being a
government responsibility to maintain capitalism (Brimley & GarIield, . Section 5 oI the
Rehabilitation Act oI 1973 (Section 5 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA require students with disabilities to have access to a Iree and appropriate education
(Bartlett, Etschiedt, & Weisenstein, 7. Superintendent GriIIin supported the policy and

Running head: SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEW
agreed that students and parents should have school choice. Some oI the other school leaders in
the state have diIIerent attitudes toward the statute. Reese (11 reported that several legislators
are debating iI the voucher system violates the separation oI church and state. Opponents oI the
policy disagree with parents having the option to use Iunding Ior their children to attend private
schools. Some private schools have religious inIluences and under the current policy, Iamilies
who have a child with special needs can use coupons Irom public school district to attend any
approved private school. As Superintendent GriIIin commented, school leaders should adhere to
the state statue. There is a proper protocol to respond to unIavorable political decisions. Schools
are in the 'business oI educating children (G. GriIIin, personal communication, February 15,
11. It sends a more positive and supportive message iI school districts navigate the political
process rather than reIusing to provide a mandated service to students and their Iamilies. School
leaders should collaborate with other stakeholders to get the attention oI the primary policy
actors (Fowler, 9.








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Running head: SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEW
ReIerences
Bartlett, L.D., Etscheidt, S., & Weisenstein, G.R. (7. Special education law and practice in
public schools (nd ed.. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Blackwell, J. (. Empowering school leaders: Personal political power Ior school board
members and administrators. Lanham, MD: Rowman & LittleIield Education.
Brimley, V. & GarIield, R. (. Financing education in a climate oI change. (1th ed..
Boston, MA: Pearson.
Fowler, F. C. (9. Policy studies Ior educational leaders: An introduction. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson.
Garrett, S. (1. School Laws oI Oklahoma. Retrieved Irom http://www.sde.state.ok.us/Law/
LawBook/deIault.html.
Heise, M. (. Litigated learning and the limits oI law. Cornell Law Faculty Publication.
1-1. Retrieved Irom http://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/cgi/ viewcontent.cgi?article
11&contextlsrppapers.
Oklahoma City Public Schools Policy Manual. (1. Oklahoma I.S.D. Board Policy Manual.
Oklahoma City, OK.
Okla. Stat. Ann. ch. 70, 3-118.

Running head: SUPERINTENDENT INTERVIEW
Reese, J. (11, February 9. Expand school choice, outlaw killing innocent liIe. Oklahoma
Gazette, p. A.
Underwood, J. (. School money trials: The legal pursuit oI educational adequacy. Journal
oI Law and Education, 37(, 9-1.