Position Paper on School Choice and the Voucher System
Education and the training of young children and adults is a cornerstone of society. Few institutions have as much influence on the next generation as the various school systems. Educators have the task of shaping, supporting, and instructing students to be prepared for the next phase of society. While these are pivotal times in the lives of students and their families, there are few options for many families when it comes to schools. Families should have the ability to determine the best school fit for their student. While there are numerous private schools that are viable options for many families, some families have no choice but to send
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The system would provide government grants to eligible families that send their students to private schools (Witte, 2017). Vouchers can eliminate the cost factor for families and allow them to choose schools based on what would be best for the students. School choice is important to the parents as well as the students. School involvement is one of the main ways that parents stay involved in the lives of the students, public policy, and participation in society (Fleming, 2014). The option to choose a school can lead to participation in other parts of society and can also be seen as a moral right by various groups. Families should be allowed, and have support from the government, to send their students to the school that is the best educational fit.
Arguments with School Choice
Educators are aware that there are many factors that can affect learning. Class size, relationship with teachers, teaching styles and methods, student interest, and school size, are just a few of these factors. Families that send their students to public schools do not have much control over these factors to help their students find the right fit. However, with a voucher system, families could explore different options in their area to determine the right fit for each student. In this discussion of school choice, there are arguments against this type of system and arguments for school choice.
Arguments
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Every student has the right to succeed in the classroom, and the factors that will influence that success will vary from student to student. Allowing families to work with a number of schools to determine the place that works for that particular student is the essence behind the right fit for each student (Witte, 2017). The voucher system allows this to happen by removing various barriers, like private school tuition for example, from the families. This opens the door to low-income families and allows them the opportunity to send students to schools where they can succeed best (Witte, 2017). Schools also need to be pushing forward as they challenge their students. This type of system gives incentives to schools to improve and give their best efforts (Doncel, Sainz, & Sanz, 2012). Witte (2017) theorizes that the voucher system can go beyond that idea and improve school efficiency at a lower cost than other educational reform programs. Previously, it was mentioned that some studies have shown that school choice does not increase academic outcomes. However, it should be noted that other sources have found the opposite to be true. Students that have the choice to enroll in schools based on their specific learning style, interests, or needs, have shown improvement and will continue to perform at a high level socially and academically (Witte,
Supporters of school vouchers claim that it levels the educational playing field for lower income families who would have the option to send their kids away from an "ineffective" poorly funded public schools. Some lower class families feel that their kids would have a better chance with a tuition voucher to go to a private school where more money is spent on education.
The Ohio Vouchers program was created to respond to the failing of Cleveland’s public school system. With this program however, the vouchers are not supporting students to attend public school in the Cleveland school district. The surrounding school districts can accept the vouchers but have not done so since the program has started. This program is hurting the Cleveland public school system by diverting money that should be going to improve public schools but instead being put in private schools which are largely religious schools. The program continues to hurt not only the public school district but also the parents of the students who try to take advantage of the program. Parents are left with no alternative than to choose a nonpublic school and even then a religiously private school.
Why would anyone wish to withhold support for a program that has the potential to revolutionize the, often, insufficient American education system? This question has undoubtedly entered the mind of proponents of education voucher systems across the country. However, despite the pressure placed on legislators everywhere, close scrutiny of the real issues should not be clouded by public fervor. It is my belief that, after a thorough examination of the merits of such programs, school vouchers would be a gross detriment to both the American education system and the nation itself.
For instance, the funds can help the large number of students who are living in poverty by providing them access to more resources they could not reach on their own (U.S Department of Education). Additionally, test results for schools “with substantial funding and low student poverty are similar to those earned by the highest scoring countries on international tests (U.S Department of Education).” Subsequently, the extra funding for students in poverty increases their scores, so the scores are comparable to international countries. At the same time, other benefits include decreased chances of the students to be poor as adults, and increased the chances of them graduating (Max Ehrenfreund, Washington Post). The increase in test scores appeals to parents and may result in a larger number of enrollment of students from different races. In addition, some districts that had increased funding were able to directly link it to increased test scores (Turney Corey,
In the 1990’s the school choice movement gained momentum through John E. Chubb and Terry M. Moe’s bold assumption that “school choice would make it possible to break the iron grip of the adult interest group, unleash the positive power of competition, and achieve academic excellence” (Ravitch 118). Many advocates for school choice share a similar belief in the positive effect school choice and competition create in schools. When comparing the statistics to this notion, however, one finds an opposite conclusion than the one proposed. The school choice approach and the importance of competition in schools generates a stress on both charter schools and district schools to feature high-achieving students and dismiss
In this paper I will detail the reasons for my support of school choice, because its success does not necessarily rely on a change in all of the educational institutions involved. Rather, school choice allows a fundamental shift in how we participate in the education of our children. It involves the act of volition, and constitutes a practice that had generally been reserved for most other aspects of American society: free choice.
The idea that vouchers give parents a choice of schools for their children is simply incorrect. The only people who have any real choice in the matter are the private...
Ellig, J. (1999). Issue Analysis 96-School Choice:Issues and Answers. [55 paragrphs]. Retrieved April 3, 2003 from the World Wide Web: www.cse.org/informed/issues_template.php?issue_id=669
Many parents decide that private schools or charter schools are more appropriate for their children than public schools. Unfortunately, not only does the government fail to support these families, but they are still required to pay public school tax. The United States government must change the education system from a one size fits all model to a more tailored approach. School choice is perhaps the best response to the failure of the public education system. This program seeks to stop the back slide of American education by changing how kids go to school.
The Public Choice For some parents, deciding on a school for their children can be a difficult decision. Many parents do not spend much time thinking about it; they place their children into the local school designated by where they live. Others attended a private school themselves and found that it was a beneficial experience and therefore want the same for their kids. But which is better: private schools or public schools? While there are many advantages and disadvantages to each (nothing is going to be absolutely perfect), we are going to focus on the benefits of an education in the public school system, or in other words, schools funded by the government that are for anyone to attend.
Many people in today’s society believe it’s wise to send their children to private schools. In making the decision on whether to put children in public or private schools, they look to four main factors: curriculum, class size, the graduation rate, and cost. When people have to pay for something, their first thought is, “Will I be getting what I’m paying for?” With a private school education, the amount you have to pay is usually well worth it. Public schools offer diversity. Here students can find people who are just like them and can associate better. Wherever you live, you have to send your child to the closest school. There’s no choice on what public school you can send your child to, whereas for private schools you can pick to send your child there. It’s not an easy choice for parents to decide, but many factors point toward a guarantee that a good education would be achieved, which is most important.
There are many options for school that every child has. There is the option of private school, pubic school, boarding school, and home school. In the case of home schooling, there are simply too many disadvantages for the child though out the educational process. There are many reasons for home schooling a child. These reasons include, religious reasons, lack of a good public school district, and distrust of any school district for one’s child, to name a few. Many professionals are completely against the practice of home schooling, Thomas Shannon; executive director of the National School Board Association says that home schooling is “a giant step backward into the 17th century. (Stencel, 1994) These disadvantages include, grading, laws on home schooling, social atmosphere, education and the quality of the teacher.
There are many decisions for parents to choose private or public school for their kids. Every parent wants what is best for his or her child. A person's education is one of the most important aspects in determining whether or not they will become a productive member of society. Education is so important. We need to look at both public and private schools to find out if there is a difference. Private schools are a better choice than public school for many reasons. Private encourages strong quality teaching, encourages higher education learning, and inhibit the rampant of bullying.
Some people argue that parents should have the choice to send their children to whatever school they want, however, if we drain public school dollars to fund private school education we create an unequal system where well off children are better educated and less fortunate children are left without resources or access to a quality education. Inequities in funding and educational resources place poor children in low-performing schools with run-down facilities and ineffective teachers (Giving Point).These inequalities in resources contributes to students getting discouraged and detached, and hurts our whole society. Public education in America was created to equalize opportunity; instead it’s neglecting poor students and limiting their life choices.Arizona’s tax
Will school choice significantly improve educational standards? This is the fundamental question in school choice policy debates. Are vouchers the solution or do they just compound the problem? Teachers unions believe school choice will destroy the public school system, a mainstay of government responsibility. Yet others argue that the failings of public education are the fundamental reason why certain groups are held back from advancing their place in society. Who is right? More importantly, whose interests will win out?