{"id":1518,"date":"2020-06-16T15:00:42","date_gmt":"2020-06-16T20:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/wels-educator\/?p=1518"},"modified":"2020-05-22T13:36:32","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T18:36:32","slug":"is-school-choice-the-right-choice-for-your-les","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/wels-educator\/2020\/06\/16\/is-school-choice-the-right-choice-for-your-les\/","title":{"rendered":"Is School Choice the Right Choice for Your LES?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Dan Johnson<\/em><\/p>\n

The model of parish education is changing in our synod. A greater number of schools are looking outside the church walls to continue their ministry, and that brings up questions of funding. How does a church continue to carry out the Great Commission and fund a well-rounded education? The student tuition could be raised, but higher tuition means that many families will be unable to consider the school because of their financial situation. The answer for many schools and congregations is to turn to school choice programs, using public money to pay for private school education.<\/p>\n

Many WELS schools are participating in choice.
\n<\/strong>Many schools look at choice programs as an opportunity to carry out the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19, \u201cmaking disciples of all nations.\u201d Mr. Benjamin Clemons, former principal of Risen Savior Lutheran School in Milwaukee, put it this way: \u201cThe largest blessing of school choice in my mind is that we were able to fund a school that otherwise would not have existed, which allowed us to share the gospel daily with hundreds of children\u201d (Vik, 2008, p 8).<\/p>\n

If choice programs can provide a private LES education for students who could use the message of the Savior, while also helping to fund the school, what is the problem? Brenner (1992) cautions about financial dependency on such programs and the possibility of improper government control. These cautions are sound reasoning and are the basis for some congregations to avoid school choice programs.<\/p>\n

If there are cautions, why are so many WELS schools, in states across the country, choosing to participate in school choice programs? The answer can seem quite simple. These ministries have lasting results on the lives of the students and families, both earthly and spiritually (Hoogervorst, 2014; Vik, 2008). Students who attended a choice school scored higher academically than their public-school counterparts on standardized tests in both reading and math (Johnson, 2019). But more significant is that these students heard the message of the Savior, a message they might never have received anywhere else.<\/p>\n

During a three-year period (2015-2018), urban WELS churches in Milwaukee, 14 in all, who participated in school choice saw tremendous spiritual growth. These churches reported nearly 500 baptisms, 72 youth confirmations, and 300 new adult members (Johnson, 2019). Very few if any of these increases would have been possible without school choice, which has allowed these congregations to reach out to the communities around them in ways they were previously unable. These congregations also grew in school enrollment to nearly 3,000 students in 2018 (WELS, 2018). Furthermore, all of these congregations have seen growth in church attendance and membership the longer their ministry has participated in school choice (Johnson, 2019).<\/p>\n

Is school choice the right choice for your LES?
\n<\/strong>While this is a congregation-by-congregation decision, the data supports growth in the school and congregation for those ministries connected to school choice. This decision to enter school choice affects the academic and spiritual lives of the students involved. Take every opportunity to reach the lost for Christ. Souls are at stake, and school choice may be the avenue to bring the gospel to more students and their families.<\/p>\n

The following is the link to Dan\u2019s complete graduate studies thesis, \u201cSchool Choice and Its Effects on the Spiritual and Academic Growth of Students.\u201d https:\/\/mlc-wels.edu\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2019\/02\/Johnson-Thesis_final.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Dan Johnson (\u201903, MS Ed \u201919) is currently serving at Mt. Lebanon-Milwaukee. <\/em><\/p>\n

References
\n<\/strong>Brenner, J. M. (1992, September) Issues related to educational choice: WELS Commission on Parish Schools. <\/em>Milwaukee.<\/p>\n

Hoogervorst, J. (2004, December) Is school choice the right choice for WELS schools? <\/em>Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Essay File. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.wlsessays.net\/bitstream\/handle\/123456789\/2270\/HoogervorstSchoolChoiceWELS.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Johnson, D. (2019, May) School choice and its effects on the spiritual and academic growth of students. <\/em>Martin Luther College Essay File. Retrieved from:https:\/\/mlc-wels.edu\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2019\/02\/Johnson-Thesis_final.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Vik, M. (2008, December). A slow and gentle walk, a close look at the method and process of implementation of School Choice at Risen Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church and School. <\/em>Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Essay File. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.wlsessays.net\/bitstream\/handle\/123456789\/1442\/VikSchoolChoiceRisenSaviorMilwaukeeWI.pdf<\/a>,<\/p>\n

WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools. (2017). WELS School Statistics 2014-2015. <\/em>Retrieved from: https:\/\/connect.wels.net\/AOM\/schools\/CLS%20Key%20Documents\/School%20Stats%202016-2017.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

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