School vouchers are sums of money that the state can allocate to students or parents to help them pay for the tuition of a private education. Vouchers are paid for with taxpayers’ money, they can be used for religious as well as non-religious private schools. Proponents claim that vouchers can help improve students’ academic performance and graduation rates (Jason, 2014). Those against it argue that they do not improve students’ academics and actually have a negative impact on public schools (“Tax credits for…”, 2014). School vouchers are not as amazing as they seem, they do not significantly improve performance, they do not save funds or increase choice, and they take away money from already under funded schools (Messerli, 2012). Vouchers
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Private schools, many times do not have to meet certain standards that public schools do. They are often are not required to test students, or publish their curriculum along many others (“10 reasons why…”, 2011). In some cases, even when the legislative body has tried to require accountability standards for voucher programs, private schools have not obliged (“10 reasons why…”, 2011). Public schools are subject to rigorous oversight and regulations, while private schools are not (Messerli, 2012). This allows for less responsible behavior, it also makes it more difficult to know how private schools preform (Messerli, 2012). Vouchers can also undermine religious liberty, the majority of voucher and private schools are religious (Messerli, 2012). About 76% of private schools have sort of religious affiliation and more than 80% of students at private schools are enrolled in a religious institution (“10 reasons why…”, 2011). Private schools are able to impose religious standards on students and faculty, and this is not something that should be supported by taxpayers’ money (“10 reasons why…”, …show more content…
It is possible to see the other side, vouchers have helped some students get into private schools that they would never be able to afford (Jason, 2014). Some students might show some improvement, but in general vouchers have not shown a significant change (“Tax credits for…”, 2014). School vouchers ultimately harm students and the community, like the NEA says, there are “lots of possibilities for abuse” with the system (“Tax credits for…”, 2014). Therefore the government should not offer subsidies for private
Private schools, many times do not have to meet certain standards that public schools do. They are often are not required to test students, or publish their curriculum along many others (“10 reasons why…”, 2011). In some cases, even when the legislative body has tried to require accountability standards for voucher programs, private schools have not obliged (“10 reasons why…”, 2011). Public schools are subject to rigorous oversight and regulations, while private schools are not (Messerli, 2012). This allows for less responsible behavior, it also makes it more difficult to know how private schools preform (Messerli, 2012). Vouchers can also undermine religious liberty, the majority of voucher and private schools are religious (Messerli, 2012). About 76% of private schools have sort of religious affiliation and more than 80% of students at private schools are enrolled in a religious institution (“10 reasons why…”, 2011). Private schools are able to impose religious standards on students and faculty, and this is not something that should be supported by taxpayers’ money (“10 reasons why…”, …show more content…
It is possible to see the other side, vouchers have helped some students get into private schools that they would never be able to afford (Jason, 2014). Some students might show some improvement, but in general vouchers have not shown a significant change (“Tax credits for…”, 2014). School vouchers ultimately harm students and the community, like the NEA says, there are “lots of possibilities for abuse” with the system (“Tax credits for…”, 2014). Therefore the government should not offer subsidies for private