School Choice
...ool voucher is redeemable in money upon presentation. Its value equals the average per student cost of education in the district. This allows parents to send their students to a public or private school of their choice. If the cost of tuition is higher in the private school than the value of the voucher, the parents must make up the difference in pay. This eliminates state–run monopolies and double education payments which ultimately save scarce resources, reduces tax burdens, and improves their quality of family life. Because schools are stagnant and inferior, voucher advocates believe that choice expands schools, reduces tuition, and fosters innovative teaching methods with 21st century technology. In a recent Cleveland study, Paul Peterson and William Howell, two renowned researchers, found after two years of program choice, parents were significantly more satisfied with almost all aspects of their children’s education than public school counterparts. Nearly, 50 percent of choice parents reported contentment with the academic programs, safety, discipline, and teaching of moral values in their private schools compared to 25 percent in public school. In addition, four other schools- Washington, D.C., Dayton, New York, and San Antonio- obtained similar results for their privately funded school choice programs. Also, test scores of these five schools had significant gains in math and reading after three or four years of participation. In fact, the magnitude of gains was remarkable -11 normal curve equivalent (NCE) points in math and 6 NCE points in reading over a four year period- and the test scores favored the expansion of educational opportunities and school choice. Despite compelling evidence, critics wonder if school choice undermines three of American greatest traditions - civic values, integration, and separation of church and state. Since most families choose schools based upon where they want to live, voucher advocates claim that choice fosters integration while government public school assignments embolden segregation. Paul Peterson and William Howell confirm that private school students are more likely to be in racially mixed groups at lunch than public school students. After adjusting seating, school size, and student grade levels in the Cleveland choice program study, 79 percent of private school students were in racially mixed groups compared to 43 per cent of public school students. Similarly, parochial schools are better integrated than secular schools, suggesting that low tuition typically found at religious schools help contribute to racial integration. Thus, vouchers further promote integration because it removes financial barriers for the underprivileged class to attend private schools. Given that vouchers cost about half as much as conventional public education, school choice seemingly is an appealing option. From another viewpoint, some contend that choice programs cream the best students, drain the public school talents, and divert scarce resources. The underlying issue is fear of public school abandonment. What skeptics fail to realize is that high- achievers and affluent students have long departed because of low standards and inferior education. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education asserts, “59 percent of students currently attend “chosen” schools; the remaining 41 percent lack the financial resources to migrate to a desired public school attendance zone or pay private school tuition.” A third phobia voucher opponents assert is the dissolution of teacher unions. But ...