Vouchers and Views

 Vouchers and Views

Figure 1

School Vouchers: A Hot Topic

     

Note: Lawrence, M. (2017). Voucher Key.Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/157270154@N05/26750406189

School Vouchers are a hot and widely debated topic in K-12 educational systems. Vouchers are  “state- or school district-funded scholarships that allow students to attend a private school of the family’s choice rather than sending the child to public school” (ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023). School vouchers impact students, teachers, families, and educational stakeholders in both public and private schooling. They also affect anyone who is a taxpayer since “public K-12 education receives benefits worth billions of dollars through the deductibility of state and local taxes” (Department of Education, 2011).  

Thus, stakeholders have many different perspectives on the issue to consider. Some people support school vouchers. According to EdChoice (2023),  “School vouchers give parents the freedom to choose a private school for their children, using all or part of the public funding set aside for their children’s education.” Some are opposed to school vouchers. Fiddiman & Yin (2019) posit that private school vouchers are dangerous and fail to protect the civil rights of students.  Still, many others have more moderate views about school vouchers and tend to share information, facts, and data about the issue. For instance, a report on whether school vouchers are good for education noted that “supporters say vouchers help students succeed, but opponents say they cipher away public school resources” (PBS NewsHour, 2017). Regardless of one’s stance on school vouchers in America, they are a historical and modern educational issue with opposing perspectives fueled by political, economic, and social contexts (Ford et al., 2017). The purpose of this blog is to share three perspectives regarding school vouchers in America.

Figure 2

School Vouchers Are A Choice

Note: Geralt (2017). One Choice.Wikimedia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Choice-2692466_960_720.jpg

Supporting School Vouchers

Many support school vouchers. According to edChoice (2023), school vouchers reinforce parental rights. They provide parents with various choices for how their children are educated. Thus, supporters believe school vouchers can help students attend private schools that meet their unique needs better than public schools. They also feel that school vouchers help students attend schools that correspond with their religious beliefs, whereas public schooling does not. Moreover, there are many reasons why one may support school vouchers.  

School vouchers give the parent the right to choose an educational pathway for their child. PBS Newshour shared a report called Are school vouchers good for Education? That debate is playing out in Indiana, and in the report, a video of then-President Donald Trump visiting a private school was shared. He stated, "Education is the civil rights issue of our time, and that is why I asked Congress to support a school choice bill" (PBS NewsHour, 2017). Moreover, many supporters agree with Mr. Trump that school vouchers support civil rights through freedom of choice.  Therefore, instead of using tax money to fund public education programs, supporters posit that vouchers give parents the choice and freedom to use public funding to send their children to a school they choose. One reason some parents want to have a choice in their child’s education is because they feel that public schools support segregation. According to ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica (2023), “School vouchers allow lower-income parents to avoid sending a child to a bad school, a school overwhelmed with gang violence, or a school that lacks racial diversity. A study of Louisiana’s voucher program found that the program reduced racial segregation, a feat in a state with 34 school districts under federal desegregation orders”. Parents can choose school vouchers to “empower students to overcome racial and other disparities in their communities” (ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023). The school voucher money can be used for private schooling, homeschooling, online schooling, and private tutoring instead (Lopez et al., 2023). Thus, school vouchers work for families because they provide opportunities for families to have choices in the schools their children attend. 

School voucher supporters posit that not only do vouchers provide choice, but they also provide educational opportunities to meet the unique needs of students.  Many parents feel that public schools fail their children by not meeting their individual and academic needs (ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023). Students nationwide are usually assigned to schools based on their addresses, and the schools they attend may not provide the opportunities and services needed. Thus, “parents who cannot afford homes in neighborhoods with great school districts are often doomed to send their kids to bad schools with less funding, fewer good teachers, and fewer opportunities for students to excel” (ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023). Parents want what is best for their children, and school vouchers give their children opportunities that their assigned public schools can not or do not provide. Shah (2022) shares the story of a family where four out of six kids go to public school, and the other two go to a private school using vouchers. The two children who attend private schools need to be in small special education classrooms to support their needs.  The family stated, “We are huge advocates of finding schools that fit our kids,”... “We want them to go to a school that helps them academically – and to be a good human, really.”  Moreover, families and supporters of school vouchers recognize that vouchers from the government can provide students with a means to get their individual and academic needs met outside of public institutions. 

Some supporters of school vouchers understand that private institutions can support their religious beliefs. Rather than sending their children to secular public schools, vouchers allow families to send them to private schools aligned to their religion. Many parents appreciate having control over what their children are taught, and school vouchers support this action (Mulvihill, 2023). Pandy (2023) discusses how school vouchers in Texas allow low-income families to attend private catholic schools to get a religious education. She states that “Earlier this month, the governor, who is Catholic, declared a “School Choice Sunday” and joined a handful of religious leaders across denominations to host a virtual town hall in support of vouchers” (Pandy, 2023). Moreover, “vouchers also allow parents to choose a school that best fits a child’s religious, cultural, or racial background, allowing that child to perform better in school, at home, and in their community” (ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2023). Supporters of school vouchers appreciate that students can attend schools that align with their cultural and religious beliefs. 

There are many reasons people support school vouchers, including choosing where students attend school, choosing the type of education a child receives, aligning student needs with educational programs that can meet them, and attending schools that value one’s religious beliefs. Thus, the issue of using school vouchers is formed by political, cultural, historical, and socio-economic contexts. These contexts provide a means to advocate for school voucher programs in education.

Figure 3

Protest for Funding Public Education 

 Note: Charles Miller (2019). Chicago Teachers Union Rally 10-14-19_3729.Wikimedia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chicago_Teachers_Union_Rally_10-14-19_3729_(48906579127).jpg

Opposing School Vouchers

While many support school vouchers, many also oppose school vouchers. Opponents of school vouchers believe that they are a terrible idea for the state of education. Just as with supporters of vouchers, opponents of school vouchers use political, cultural, historical, and socio-economic contexts to share their voices and advocate for their beliefs. Opponents feel vouchers deny student rights (Fiddiman & Yin, 2019). They posit that many parents need help understanding the full extent of voucher programs and policies (Fiddiman & Yin, 2019). For instance, parents may not understand that private schools do not have to offer educational services such as special education, speech therapy, and other intervention services needed to support a child’s education. Opponents of school vouchers also believe that they are meant to lessen the effectiveness, power, or ability of public education by taking away funding and using it in the private sector (National Association for Education, 2023). There are many reasons that people oppose school vouchers. 

Some school voucher opponents think that school vouchers deny rights to students. Civil rights are  “guarantees of equal social opportunities and protection under the law, regardless of race, religion, or other characteristics” (Britannica, 2020). According to Fiddiman & Yin (2019), “voucher programs fail to provide the civil rights protections that students have in public schools.” They share that private schools are unlike public schools in that they can deny admission because of religious beliefs and sexual identity, thus causing students to lose their civil rights (Fiddiman & Yin, 2019). Wendy Robinson, Superintendent of Fort Wayne Community Schools in Indiana, posits that vouchers are unfair because public schools must educate every student who enters the door. However, private schools that use vouchers do not have to (PBS NewsHour, 2017). This phenomenon denies a child’s civil rights. Ford et al. (2017) report how school vouchers are historical in context. The authors share that in the '60s, schools in Prince Edward County, Virginia, operated a segregated school system and worked to keep it through private school vouchers. "The scheme they hatched was to close public schools and provide white students with private school vouchers” (Ford et al., 2017).  Thus, they posit how this action still plays a part in school vouchers today because vouchers may not protect students' civil rights. Thus, there are political, historical, and cultural contexts that play a role in why some oppose school vouchers. 

Similarly, some opponents say they disagree with school vouchers because private schools that utilize vouchers do not offer the services that students need for academic success. ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. (2023) states that a con of school vouchers is that “Public schools are required by law to offer a wide range of free services to students who need extra or enhanced instruction, special services or equipment, or other educational accommodations. Private schools do not have those same requirements.” They go on to share that private schools that use school voucher programming do not have to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), or  Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Without access to such services, students do not get their individualized learning needs met. Thus, this lack of support for students with special needs is why many oppose school vouchers.  

Opponents of school vouchers propose that many people need help understanding the accompanying implications. Vouchers can vary from state to state. Thus, families should take their time to learn about the vouchers before accepting them, and they should especially know the special education and services laws that accompany vouchers ( Kelly, 2023). Others propose vouchers are a "political distraction that diverts important resources and takes taxpayer funds. They are unconstitutional and experimental." (The Coalition for Public Schools, n.d.). Therefore, opponents propose that people should do their research when choosing school vouchers. In Texas, "A voucher or “school choice” program is any government mechanism that would allow parents to use taxpayer dollars to send their children to private schools” (Lopez et al., 2023). The authors posit that many people are unaware of what the vouchers mean because "a recent UT/TXP poll showed that 61% of rural respondents expressed support for establishing a voucher program, but that number dropped to 43% when asked if they would support redirecting state tax revenue to private school tuition" (Lopez et al., 2023). Opponents of school vouchers feel that there should be “clear and complete information about the risks of using voucher programs, including the loss of procedural safeguards available to students in public schools” and that “state and local education agencies must provide information to families who are considering participating in a voucher program, including full disclosure about policies that may push their child out of school” (Fiddiman & Yin, 2019). "This year, in legislatures across the country, lawmakers are considering more voucher proposals than in recent years. Notably, the proposals are also more complex, which makes it more difficult for policymakers, the media, and the public to understand their full impact” (Hinh, 2023). Moreover, a lack of clear communication allows one to oppose school vouchers. 

Another reason some are opposed to school vouchers is because they believe that school vouchers compromise public schools. Opponents argue that school vouchers take money away from public schools and give the money to private schools (ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 2023). Thus, school vouchers take money away from schools that are struggling and have high populations of low-income students and give it to private schools that contain middle and high-class students. The Superintendent of Fort Wayne Community Schools in Indiana agreed and sees school vouchers as "an assault on public schools” and posits that vouchers "create a separate school system on the back of the structure that is intended for public schools” (PBS NewsHour, 2017). A public school principal shared that classes are overcrowded, and they are losing teachers because there is not enough funding to keep them because of the lack of funding they receive  (PBS NewsHour, 2017). According to Lopez et al. (2023),  vouchers put public schools in a bad situation. The authors posit that "Many school officials have had to adopt deficit budgets, meaning their expenditures outweigh their revenues. Some school districts have dipped into their savings to offer teachers minimal raises, balance their budgets, or simply keep the lights on. Others are considering closing some of their campuses altogether to save money" (Lopez et al., 2023). Likewise, Hinh (2023) posits that vouchers are not targeted at low-income students and schools; thus, they cause public schools to lose money, which puts students, teachers, and educational stakeholders at risk. Hinh (2023) states that vouchers are "Racist in origin" and "perpetuate existing disparities in our K-12 funding and tax systems to further racially and socioeconomically segregate our education system."  Thus, another reason for opposing school vouchers is because they are believed to undermine public education. Denying Rights to students, having a lack of services for students with disabilities, unawareness and lack of understanding about the agenda of vouchers, and undermining public education and its funding are why many argue against the use of school vouchers. These reasons for opposing school vouchers have socio-economic, political, cultural, and historical underpinnings.

Figure 4

Moderate Perspectives on School Vouchers

 

 Note: Nick Youngson. (2017). Moderate.Picpedia. https://www.picpedia.org/chalkboard/m/moderate.html

Moderate Stances on School Vouchers

There are also many moderate stances on the issue of school vouchers. Moderate stances on school vouchers also have socio-economic, political, cultural, and historical foundations. Instead of being supportive or opposed to school voucher programs, many authors with moderate stances share simple facts, information, or data about both sides of the issue. For instance, according to ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. (2023), there are pros and cons to using school vouchers. One pro is that vouchers offer students in failing schools a better education, while the con is that vouchers do not improve student's academic performance. Kelly (n.d.) discusses information about the purposes of vouchers, how they vary from state to state, and how private schools do not have to offer the same special education services as public schools. Ford et al. (2017) share that "private schools in the South tend to have the largest overrepresentation of white students. In fact, research has shown that the strongest predictor of white private school enrollment is the proportion of black students in the local public schools." Thus, the authors take a moderate stance on the issue by sharing both sides, basic information, and research. 

A new bill in North Carolina (NC),  "Choose Your School, Choose Your Future," was introduced into the NC General Assembly recently. "The program helps families who make below a certain amount of income pay tuition and fees at qualifying nonpublic schools, according to the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority, which administers the program” (Rash, 2023).  It is one of NC's largest expansions of school choice, and household income would determine how much money each family receives. Rash (2023) goes on to share data noting that "in 2022-23, there are 25,429 students availing themselves of this funding across North Carolina: 8,964 are new to the program this school year. The amount of scholarships in 2022-23 totals $131,913,162. There are 544 schools across the state with students who receive this funding”. Rash (2023) also notes that most students who receive the voucher funding are not of Hispanic origin but are white. This information provides simple facts about the state of vouchers in NC. 

Enamorado (2021) posits that "giving parents the freedom to choose doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll make the choices that some experts prefer, or the choices that lead to what some may deem to be the most socially desirable outcome." He goes on to suggest that vouchers have fallen short in terms of academic achievement for Black students, but this is not the case for all students. Thus, according to his research, the data on student achievement in public versus private schools is mixed. His research shows that high school students with vouchers will graduate college, which has benefited black students; there are positive outcomes for high school graduation for those who attend private schools, and public schools become more competitive when vouchers are considered (Enamorado, 2021). Thus, there is much research, data, and information to consider about school vouchers, resulting in a moderate stance with socio-economic, political, cultural, and historical implications.

Predictions about School Vouchers

The use of school vouchers in education brings about controversy. There are many valid opinions about why school vouchers should and should not be used for educational purposes. There are also a lot of moderate stances on the issue. Overall, the topic of school vouchers is an ongoing and continuous debate. There seems to be some uncertainty about what school vouchers actually are and why one would be supportive or opposed to them. Nevertheless, school vouchers pose socioeconomic, political, cultural, and historical debates. The use of school vouchers in the United States will continue to grow, and those who support, oppose, or have moderate stances on the issue will continue to communicate and bring awareness to their side of the story and experiences. 

References:

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2020, March 24). What are civil rights? Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/question/What-are-civil-rights

Department of Education. (2011, April). How Public Education Benefits from the Federal Income Tax Deduction for State and Local Taxes and Other Special Tax Provisions: A Background Paper from the Center on Education Policy. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED518387.pdf

edChoice. (n.d.). What are School Vouchers? edChoice. https://www.edchoice.org/school-choice/types-of-school-choice/what-are-school-vouchers-2/

Enamorado, P. (2021, October 1). The impact of voucher programs: A deep dive into the research. Thomas Fordham Institute. https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/impact-voucher-programs-deep-dive-research

Fiddiman, B., & Yin, J. (2019, May 12). The Danger Private School Voucher Programs Pose to Civil Rights. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/danger-private-school-voucher-programs-pose-civil-rights/

Ford, Chris, Johnson, S., & Partelow, Lisette. (2017, July 12). The Racist Origins of Private School Vouchers. The Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/racist-origins-private-school-vouchers/

Geralt (2017). One Choice.Wikimedia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Choice-2692466_960_720.jpg

Hinh, I. (2023, March 21). State Policymakers Should Reject K-12 School Voucher Plans Proposals Would Undermine Public Schools. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/state-policymakers-should-reject-k-12-school-voucher-plans#:~:text=The%20support%20for%20public%20schools%20is%20high%3A%20families,racially%20and%20socioeconomically%20segregate%20our%20education%20system.%20

Kelly, K. (n.d.). School Vouchers: What You Need to Know. Understood.Org. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/school-vouchers-what-you-need-to-know

 Lawrence, M. (2017). Voucher Key.Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/157270154@N05/26750406189

Lopez, B., Schumacher, Y., & Stavish, V. (2023, October 10). Vouchers return this special session — and school funding might be left out. Here’s what you need to know. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/06/texas-education-vouchers-funding-special-session/

Miller, C.  (2019). Chicago Teachers Union Rally 10-14-19_3729.Wikimedia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chicago_Teachers_Union_Rally_10-14-19_3729_(48906579127).jpg

Mulvihill, G. (2023). Parents like private school vouchers so much that demand is exceeding budgets in some states | AP News. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/school-vouchers-scholarships-budget-cost-enrollment-20a819f087af0cb1ed5a60ec24cc8216

National Association of Education, ed. (2023). Vouchers. National Association for Education. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/action-center/our-issues/vouchers

Pandey, M. (2023, November 1). Facing enrollment declines, Texas Catholic schools are leading supporters of school vouchers. KERA News. https://www.keranews.org/politics/2023-11-01/facing-enrollment-declines-texas-catholic-schools-are-leading-supporters-of-school-vouchers

PBS NewsHour. (2017, March 14). Are school vouchers good for education? That debate is playing out in Indiana [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9B2GEKQiPM

ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. (2023, June 23). School Vouchers – Top 4 Pros and Cons. Britannica ProCon.Org. https://www.procon.org/headlines/school-vouchers-top-4-pros-and-cons/

Rash, M. (2023, March 29). Bill expanding access to vouchers to all students filed in N.C. Senate. EducationNC. https://www.ednc.org/bill-expanding-access-to-vouchers-to-all-students-filed-in-n-c-senate/

Shah, N. (2022, September 2). US school voucher programs have caught on – but are they funneling public dollars in private schools? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2022/sep/07/us-school-vouchers-covid-private-schools-parents-new-hampshire

The Coalition for Public Schools. (n.d.). Vouchers. The Coalition for Public Schools. https://www.coalitionforpublicschools.org/vouchers/

Youngson, N. (2017). Moderate.Picpedia. https://www.picpedia.org/chalkboard/m/moderate.html