Voters Reject Private School Vouchers When Given Choice
TL/DR –
Voters in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska rejected private school choice ballot measures, underscoring opposition to the use of taxpayer dollars for private school tuition. Critics argue that while private voucher schools use public tax dollars, they are not held to the same standards as public schools and often lack necessary regulation. Despite this, it’s reported that several states are potentially looking to expand their voucher programs, with research suggesting that these programs do not outperform public schools and can lead to financial issues, as seen in Arizona where the voucher program cost nearly $1 billion last school year.
Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska voters reject private school choice measures, showing widespread opposition to the use of taxpayer money for private school tuition.
The movement for private school vouchers faced a significant setback as voters in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska rejected ballot measures aimed at implementing or expanding private school choice/voucher programs in their states.
These defeats, especially in the predominantly Republican states of Kentucky and Nebraska, highlight the prevalent opposition against using public funds for private education. In Kentucky, a proposed amendment allowing public funding for private education was rejected by every county, while Nebraska voters partially repealed a state-funded scholarship program for private schools. Colorado voters turned down a measure to integrate a school choice option into the state constitution.
National Education Association President Becky Pringle stated that these “decisive defeats” indicate public knowledge of the detrimental effects of vouchers on students and schools. She emphasized the crucial role of public education in our democracy and asserted that vouchers are not what constituents want as they harm students.
Despite the controversies surrounding voucher programs, 28 states and Washington D.C. have at least one private school choice program as reported by Education Week. However, there’s no definitive evidence that voucher schools outperform public schools. In fact, research suggests the opposite.
For instance, Arizona saw the cost of its voucher program skyrocket to nearly $1 billion last school year, leading to significant public school budget cuts. Similarly, in Iowa, two-thirds of students who received a private school voucher were already enrolled in private schools, essentially providing subsidies for services they could already afford.
Despite these concerns, multiple states including Texas and North Carolina are considering expanding their voucher programs. In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated the election of pro-voucher Republicans, expressing confidence in passing a voucher program. Similarly, in North Carolina, the Republican-led state legislature plans to convene to possibly override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a voucher expansion bill.
Pringle stressed that all stakeholders need to remind politicians that vouchers are a losing issue. She concluded, “Most parents, educators, and community members can agree that every student deserves access to well-funded neighborhood public schools that enable them to thrive and to live into their brilliance.”
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