educationfundingequitypolicyparents
Governments should provide school vouchers that allow parents to choose between public and private education.
Research syntheses report positive results on parent satisfaction, attainment, and some achievement outcomes in private school choice programs.
Several means-tested programs show higher college enrollment or graduation for participants (e.g., Florida, Milwaukee), though results vary by program.
Competitive pressure from choice can improve nearby public schools’ outcomes as programs scale.
Vouchers can redirect scarce public funds to private schools, weakening district capacity and equity.
Many universal or near-universal programs have minimal accountability and transparency requirements.
Recent evidence often finds neutral or negative test score effects for voucher users, suggesting mixed effectiveness.
Supporters argue vouchers empower families, can raise long-run attainment for some low-income students, and spur public-school improvement through competition. Opponents counter that vouchers divert funds, often lack accountability, and show mixed or negative academic results. The policy trade-off is parental choice and competitive pressure versus systemwide equity, transparency, and public-school capacity.
Voucher programs have expanded from targeted pilots to broader or universal designs in multiple U.S. states. Meta-analyses and program evaluations show heterogeneous effects across contexts, while debates continue over public funding, accountability standards, and impacts on district schools.