Education. Public Schools--Administrative Reform. Vouchers.

EDUCATION. PUBLIC SCHOOLS -- ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM. VOUCHERS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Eliminates State and County Boards of Education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commission on Teacher Certification, County School Superintendents. Creates state and county Departments of Education. Authorizes local elections to convert public schools into relatively independent schools, generally exempt from Education Code. Eliminates constitutional ban on supporting religious schools with public money. Restricts new regulation of private schools. Provides state-funded vouchers to students at qualifying private and religious schools. Regulates public school funding; teacher certification, discipline, and salaries; achievement testing; minimum school day and year. Limits teachers\u27 tenure, collective bargaining rights. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Fiscal effect largely unknown, and depends on implementation, public response, and legal interpretation. Long-term costs to state General Fund in excess of $1 billion annually, with increasing costs each year. One to two year savings up to $100 million annually. Costs to local education agencies in the billions of dollars annually to provide child care, increase teacher salaries, and comply with other provisions. Unknown school construction costs and savings to state and local governments