Proponents to School Vouchers
Improving School Performance
One of the main arguments made by supporters of the voucher program is that it creates market competition between private and public schools, thus forcing the public schools to increase the quality of their education to compete. This is often referred to as ‘voting with their feet,’ since parents who are unhappy with their assigned public school can now move their child to a better performing private school. In order for the public school to maintain enrollment they will need to improve so that parents do not pull their children out and send them to private schools. This free market competition is thought to result in an increase in school performance and quality of education.
Studies done in both Florida and Milwaukee support the claims that vouchers increase the quality of education, shown through an increase in test scores. In a study done by Greene and Winters (2003) they found that the low-performing schools in Florida improved in direct proportion to the challenge they face from voucher competition. Schools already facing competition from vouchers showed the greatest significant improvements, and schools threatened with voucher competition showed the second greatest improvements. Public schools located near private schools that were eligible to accept voucher students made significant improvements in test scores compared to similar schools not located near private schools, showing that school choice has positive academic affects.
Caroline Hoxby studied the voucher program in Milwaukee and showed that areas with greater residential school choice have higher test scores at a lower cost per pupil. She found that public schools competing with voucher-eligible private schools had higher gains in test scores than schools not faced with this competition. But the successes of voucher schools are not uniform, and different studies have not showed such positive results. There is no consensus that voucher systems improve educational achievement.
Studies done in both Florida and Milwaukee support the claims that vouchers increase the quality of education, shown through an increase in test scores. In a study done by Greene and Winters (2003) they found that the low-performing schools in Florida improved in direct proportion to the challenge they face from voucher competition. Schools already facing competition from vouchers showed the greatest significant improvements, and schools threatened with voucher competition showed the second greatest improvements. Public schools located near private schools that were eligible to accept voucher students made significant improvements in test scores compared to similar schools not located near private schools, showing that school choice has positive academic affects.
Caroline Hoxby studied the voucher program in Milwaukee and showed that areas with greater residential school choice have higher test scores at a lower cost per pupil. She found that public schools competing with voucher-eligible private schools had higher gains in test scores than schools not faced with this competition. But the successes of voucher schools are not uniform, and different studies have not showed such positive results. There is no consensus that voucher systems improve educational achievement.
Helping the Disadvantaged
One of the main drivers of voucher programs and other similar educational reform initiatives is the idea that we have a responsibility to help the least advantaged. For many reasons including, but not limited to, income level, race, family life, and the current education system, many children are left behind and are not given the same opportunities as children from wealthier backgrounds. Programs need to be in place that directly improves the opportunities of the more disadvantaged kids. School vouchers are only available to certain income levels, and are thus helping the economically disadvantaged children.
Children using vouchers not only get access to a better education and more resources, they are also in an environment that is more conducive to learning. There is evidence that peer effects have an impact on student learning. In an environment where there are less disruptive and higher-achieving children, a student’s own learning is increased. Voucher programs theoretically bring students into a better learning environment and surrounds the students with harder-working peers. But this also leaves some of the most disruptive and the hardest students to reach concentrated in nonchoice schools, possibly bringing down the learning of students in these schools via negative peer effects.
There are also important benefits beyond academics for children using school vouchers. Students who choose to go to a private school where they receive better educational opportunities also tend to have better life course payoffs. These include better jobs and a better wage, which improves life in many ways such as better mental health, later pregnancy, and lower incarceration rate, to just mention a few. These students could also have more of a positive impact on their community, returning as professionals looking to improve the community for other children. Also, by valuing education more they might instill those values in their children, perpetuating the positive impact of these voucher programs to future generations.
Children using vouchers not only get access to a better education and more resources, they are also in an environment that is more conducive to learning. There is evidence that peer effects have an impact on student learning. In an environment where there are less disruptive and higher-achieving children, a student’s own learning is increased. Voucher programs theoretically bring students into a better learning environment and surrounds the students with harder-working peers. But this also leaves some of the most disruptive and the hardest students to reach concentrated in nonchoice schools, possibly bringing down the learning of students in these schools via negative peer effects.
There are also important benefits beyond academics for children using school vouchers. Students who choose to go to a private school where they receive better educational opportunities also tend to have better life course payoffs. These include better jobs and a better wage, which improves life in many ways such as better mental health, later pregnancy, and lower incarceration rate, to just mention a few. These students could also have more of a positive impact on their community, returning as professionals looking to improve the community for other children. Also, by valuing education more they might instill those values in their children, perpetuating the positive impact of these voucher programs to future generations.
Reducing Racial Segregation
In theory, voucher programs also help reduce segregation in schools. Today, segregation in schools is not as much a product of differences in race, but is more of an outcome of socioeconomic differences. Wealthier parents have the option to move to an area with better public schools, which results in big differences in socioeconomic class between schools, especially when looking at the quality of suburban versus urban schools. In order to combat this segregation, school vouchers help bring children from lower income schools and neighborhoods to higher quality schools that are dominated by wealthier families.
However, this decrease in segregation has not proven to be significant in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (see graph below). Racial segregation is no different in schools using voucher systems than in public schools. But we have no hard evidence that socioeconomic segregation hasn’t decreased as a result. Vouchers help poor student attend private schools, which should decrease socioeconomic segregation is implemented at a larger scale.
However, this decrease in segregation has not proven to be significant in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (see graph below). Racial segregation is no different in schools using voucher systems than in public schools. But we have no hard evidence that socioeconomic segregation hasn’t decreased as a result. Vouchers help poor student attend private schools, which should decrease socioeconomic segregation is implemented at a larger scale.
Cost Effectiveness
Proponents of school vouchers believe that private schools educate children more efficiently and at a lower cost per pupil compared to public schools. Therefore, overall the voucher program is a most cost-effective approach to education. One report estimated that $37 million is saved through the voucher program in Milwaukee. While voucher schools may or may not be a more cost-effective approach to help disadvantaged students receive better educational opportunities, the controversial success of the program makes it difficult for proponents to argue it should be implemented large-scale.
The graph below shows the cost of a voucher versus the cost of public education. The voucher amount seems to clearly be a more cost effective way to approach education using a cost-per-pupil measurement. But choice schools leave out many school-related expenses that are included in public school measures. Also, some federal dollars for the Milwaukee Public Schools actually go toward helping transport and support choice students. These types of differences skew the measurements, as it is not actually comparing the same thing for both public and voucher schools. We also do not have great budget measurements from private schools, which makes it difficult to compare.
The graph below shows the cost of a voucher versus the cost of public education. The voucher amount seems to clearly be a more cost effective way to approach education using a cost-per-pupil measurement. But choice schools leave out many school-related expenses that are included in public school measures. Also, some federal dollars for the Milwaukee Public Schools actually go toward helping transport and support choice students. These types of differences skew the measurements, as it is not actually comparing the same thing for both public and voucher schools. We also do not have great budget measurements from private schools, which makes it difficult to compare.
Video: The Case for School Vouchers
Video: DC School Voucher Program
Sources:
- Brighouse, Harry, and Gina Schouten. "Understanding the Context for Existing Reform and Research Proposals." Whither Opportunity?: Rising Inequality, Schools, and Children's Life Chances. Ed. Greg J. Duncan and Richard J. Murnane. New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2011. 507-21. Print.
- Brighouse, Harry. School Choice and Social Justice. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.
- Greene, J.P. & Winters, M.A. When Schools Compete: The Effects of Vouchers on Florida Public School Achievement. Working paper. N.p., n.d. Print.
- McShane, Michael Q., Brian Kisida, Laura Jensen, and Patrick Wolf. Milwaukee Parental Choice Program: Descriptive Report on Participating Schools 2010–11. Rep. University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform School Choice Demonstration Project, Feb. 2012. Web. 4 May 2013.
- Richards, Erin. "Gov. Scott Walker Backs Report Cards for Voucher Schools." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Journal Communications, 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 4 May 2013.
- Schouten, Gina, and Harry Brighouse. High-Commitment Charter School Paper Draft. Working paper. N.p., n.d. Print.
- “School Vouchers Under The Microscope: Do They Really Improve Student Achievement?” Huffington Post. 1 June 2011. Web. 8 May 2013.