Who Do Vouchers Help?

by Mark Cavers Today the New York Times published an article asserting that the main beneficiaries of vouchers are “church-affiliated schools.” In truth, vouchers are above all else about helping the neglected students of our worst performing schools. But by ignoring the kids and framing their opposition on this ground, opponents in the White House,...

by Mark Cavers

Today the New York Times published an article asserting that the main beneficiaries of vouchers are “church-affiliated schools.” In truth, vouchers are above all else about helping the neglected students of our worst performing schools. But by ignoring the kids and framing their opposition on this ground, opponents in the White House, Congress, and here in Illinois can avoid explaining why they advocate sending kids to failing schools year after year when there is a better option. Two recent studies show that vouchers improve results for children in public schools.

A Win-Win Solution by Greg Forester released last month details the results from independent studies from across the country. He finds:

Nine out of ten voucher programs improved student outcomes for participants and one had no measurable impact.

Of 19 studies, 18 found that vouchers improved performance for corresponding public schools. The other study found no measurable impact.

A second study released last month by the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas took a focused look at the voucher program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This study found that voucher students had a better chance of graduating from high school and attending a four-year university than their public school counterparts.

MPCP students were more likely to have enrolled in a four year college, even after accounting for race, gender and prior achievement. They were less likely to have dropped out of high school or still be enrolled after four years.

By focusing on the schools and making misleading arguments pieces like the New York Times’ avoid addressing the real problem. This distortion of the issue ignores the thousands of students stuck in failing schools and shuts down the debate on how to provide them with an opportunity for a better future.

In Illinois, for the second year in a row, the General Assembly is considering a voucher program that would empower children in Chicago’s worst performing schools to choose a different option. If this bill passes, up to 30,000 students would have the opportunity to choose the right educational system for them.