Independent analyses of the few voucher programs around the nation all conclude that students using vouchers to attend private schools do not achieve more than students who remain in public schools.
In a meta-analysis released by the Utah Education Policy Center the day after Utah voters defeated Referendum 1, researchers summarized the empirical data on the "accessibility of choice and outcomes associated with vouchers." The results are very revealing. (11/8/07)
A draft report from the Government Accounting Office on the Washington, D.C. voucher program finds that students are at greater risk under the voucher program. Many voucher schools do not meet health and safety standards. And, voucher students are likely to be placed in classrooms with teachers who do not even have a college degree or a license to teach. (Washington Post, 10/11/07)
The Center on Education Policy's research found that once family background characteristics are taken into account, low-income students attending public urban high schools generally performed as well academically as students attending private high schools. (CEP 10/10/07)
The Economic Policy Institute study of the Milwaukee voucher program found that students who opted for voucher schools did no better academically than those in public schools. Additionally, researchers concluded that the competition factor didn't exist and didn't impact public or private schools. (10/8/07)
The U.S. General Accounting Office reviewed privately funded voucher programs in New York, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C., and found no significant differences in general student achievement.
Washington, D.C.'s private voucher program was reviewed by researchers hired by the U.S. Department of Education. The review, published in June 2007, shows no demonstrable difference in achievement levels. The same study found that of the original group of 2004 applicants, 23% left the program within two years. (Washington Post, 6/22/07)
Cleveland, Ohio's voucher program has been subject to many reviews. According to a report by the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education, all of the reviews are analyzed and it again finds that there is no significant increase in the achievement levels of students in voucher schools.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the nation's oldest voucher program. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel published a 7-part series on the program, again demonstrating mixed results of vouchers.
Like Utah's voucher program, most other voucher programs have no built-in accountability. In many cases, this has led to fraud and abuse that has cost taxpayers millions and has threatened the education opportunities of children.
Florida's voucher program and its special-needs voucher program have been the topic of a series of news articles, many of them about the fraud in the system. In one case it was discovered that Islamic radicals had received tax funds to start a private school. (Palm Beach Post, 7/19/03)
Florida's programs had such little oversight that fraud and abuse were rampant. In one controversial situation, the state's Department of Education tried to 'cover up' the alleged abuse. A whistle-blower in the department brought the issues to light and was demoted. (Palm Beach Post, 7/19/03). [Link] [check on this link. It doesn't seem to be working.]
Additionally, before public exposure of the fraud, the Florida governor's office considered covering-up the abuse. (Palm Beach Post, 11/12/03)
For more on Florida's voucher programs, click here.
Florida is not alone. A school in Milwaukee was ordered out of the voucher program in May 2006 for fraudulently submitting student applications. The school had received more than $700,000 in voucher funds. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/26/06)
Vouchers cost money. Any public funds diverted to voucher programs to subsidize private schools inevitably come from taxpayers and reduce the amount of public funds available to help public schools.
One myth is that vouchers will save money for the state. This myth is de-bunked in the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice review of a Friedman Foundation report on school choice saving money. The review found the report is filled with errors and omissions and additionally does not make a sufficient case for the positive fiscal impact of a voucher program.
Setting up the administrative end of administering voucher programs was the topic of research conducted by the Education Commission of the States that found voucher creators have given little thought to the administrative costs of vouchers.
The Truth About Vouchers — Links |