• Background: Vouchers first in Milwaukee, now in 6 states and D.C.. No strong benefits have been documented.
• Debate: Right to chose, markets are better v. Drains money from public system
• Country Comparison: Chile, Britain
• Recent Legislation: Court cases uphold constitutionality of religious school vouchers

Background

• Vouchers are advocated on the grounds that competition between public and private schools will improve the performance of both. In practice, vouchers are awarded to low-income families with children who otherwise would have to attend failing public schools in low-income districts. Since schools are typically funded by property taxes, low-income neighborhoods not only tend to be underfunded, but they share a host of problems that affect the quality of education. Underfunded schools are unable to attract talented teachers, they are located in crime-ridden areas, and many of the students themselves are engulfed in the cycle of crime and poverty.

• School vouchers targeting low-income students were first used the U.S. in Milwaukee in 1975. Today, 26% of Milwaukee students receive public funding to attend schools outside the public school system and residents pay more in property taxes for voucher students than for students attending public schools. A proposal to change the formula that determines the funding for vouchers was brought before the state legislature in 2007.

• Studies on voucher programs across the country have shown mixed results. According to the Center on Education Policy, a few schools showed signs of improved student achievement but others showed negligible difference.

• 6 states and Washington D.C. have state-funded voucher programs. 36 states have constitutions that contain "Blaine Amendments" that represent the anti-Catholic sentiment which places restrictions on aid to private and religious institutions. 11 states have amendments that restrict public funding of education to private schools. 3 states (Louisiana, Maine and North Carolina) have no constitutional restrictions on funding of education.

Debate

• Proponents say parents should be able to control the education of their children. Just like consumer markets, competition increases efficiency.

• Critics often say that vouchers drains from public schools and which are not held to the same standards. Private schools can deny students whereas public schools must accept and accommodate all students. This would leave behind the undesirable students in underfunded public schools. There are other ways to improve public schools like adequately addressing the funding issues and attacking poverty at its root.

Country Comparison

• Chile has introduced a voucher-based education system. A study conducted by Martin Carnoy of Stanford University found that, when controlling for parental income and education, there is a negligible difference in performance between public and private education.

• A voucher system for low-income families has been implemented in Britain for preschool education resulting in lower in costs, greater in efficiency and less bureaucracy than public provision.

Recent Legislation

• The school vouchers for religious institutions have been subject to judicial review in a number of cases. The 2002 U.S. Supreme Court case, Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, determined the constitutionality of religious school vouchers, affirming that they do not violate the establishment clause in the First Amendment.
• The Florida State Supreme Court ruled that its voucher program was unconstitutional in 2006.