School Vouchers Effects on Public Education

1
School Vouchers Effects on Public Education

• School Vouchers grants provided by the
  government for school tuition at public or
  private schools.
• Broaden parents decisions on where their child
  goes to school.
• (Colombia Encyclopedia, 2000)

2
Voucher Program

• Controversial financial risks and social risks
  for parent and child
• Vouchers have had a merry-go-round ride in the
  court system

3
History of School Choice

• 1830 Bostonian Horace Mann
• Tax-funded schoolsfelt it would help poor
• (Coulson, 1999)

• 1955 Milton Friedman
• Free market vouchers Competition between
  public/private schools felt it would help the
  poor
• (Lewis Walthers, 1999)

Horace Mann and Milton Friedman
4
Milwaukee Voucher Program

• 1980 governor included vouchers in budget bill
  removed
• 1989 representative starts experimental voucher
  program
• 1996 excluded religious schools
• 1998 religious school approved

5
Cleveland Voucher Program

• 1995 poor performance in district schools
  enacted vouchers limited program K-3 only
  2,000 students
• Superintendent of education selected students
• 1997 vouchers found to violate constitution

6
Pros of School Vouchers

• Families take advantage of educational
  opportunities
• Encourages competition
• Redirects flow of education
• Increases standards for public schools
• (Perkins, 2002)

7
Pros of School Vouchers

• Lowers taxes, parents keep more of their money
• More control over education
• High parent satisfaction
• Best way to pursue justice
• Milwaukee outperformed public schools
• (Perkins, 2002)

8
Cons of School Vouchers

• Tax payers lose their right to how is spent
• Lowers quality of education
• Raises economic, racial, and ethnic satisfaction
• Exclude special needs children
• (www.nea.org/vouchers)

9
Cons of School Vouchers

• Movement has had little success
• Only 5 of African Americans liked the voucher
  program
• No sufficient evidence
• U.S Office found no difference between the two
• (www.nea.org/vouchers)

10
Eligibility Issues

• Private schools can limit enrollment based on
  socioeconomic and social status
• The Petro Report
• Congress rejected a voucher bill to support all
  low-income students

11
Funding

• Direct Aid Private schools directly receive
  government funding
• Indirect Aid Private schools receive funding
  from sources indirectly
• Donations Charitable organizations or private
  benefactors contribute to the voucher cause

12
Impacts on Education

• The Catholic school study
• Conclusions about Cleveland
• The Milwaukee mishaps
• Chicago school choice
• The two year stall

• Conclusion Vouchers have a neutral impact on the
  education of underprivileged students

13
Implications of School Vouchers

• Parents, teachers and educational associations
  become involved
• Parents often pay out of pocket, even with a
  voucher
• Teacher Unions oppose vouchers
• Charter school vouchers approved by teacher

14
Implications Continued

• Reduces public school money, creating more
  failing schools.
• No significant signs of improvement and vouchers
  are implemented
• Private school will shy away if testing is
  required

15
Vouchers and the Law

• Supreme Court plan of eligibility
• Article 1 of the Constitution
• a) Agostini vs. Felton
• b) Everson vs. Board of Education
• b) Board of Education vs. Allens
• The establishment clause

16
Conclusion

• If we want all students to achieve we must make
  sure that a voucher system is indeed the most
  equitable way