ERIC Number: ED671543
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Nov
Pages: 2
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Fact Sheet: Privatizing Public School Funds--Threats to Equity, Access, and Educational Quality
First Focus on Children
Across the country, states have expanded their voucher programs rapidly within the past few years. School choice advocates named 2023 the "year of universal choice" because of the frequency of states adopting these programs. Universal school choice programs make school vouchers available to all families, regardless of their income level or whether their child already attends private school. Voucher programs may use terminology like "education savings accounts," "opportunity scholarships," or "tax credit scholarships." While policymakers use a range of terms to describe voucher programs, they all function similarly: by diverting public school funding to private schools. Since the term "voucher" can be associated with negative perceptions by constituents, using alternative terminology has become a common strategy to pass unpopular policies. While "school choice" sounds good in theory, the privatization of public school funds exacerbates educational inequity and increases the disparities it claims to mend. Data continues to reaffirm that school vouchers are riddled with fraud, show unimpressive results, defund public education, and amount to a handout to the wealthy. This fact sheet discusses several major issues that voucher programs present and provides recommendations.
Descriptors: Educational Vouchers, School Choice, Public Schools, Privatization, Academic Achievement, Educational Finance, Budgets, Educational Discrimination, Minority Group Students, Private Schools, Socioeconomic Status, Equal Education, Educational Quality
First Focus on Children.1400 Eye Street NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-657-0670; Fax: 202-657-0671; Web site: https://firstfocus.org/
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: First Focus on Children
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A