Vouchers, Tax Credits and Deductions
Table of Contents
Overview and Voucher Arguments
Voucher, Tax Credit and Deduction Programs
Research
News
Other Web Sites
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Overview
One of the most controversial and widely discussed issues in education today is the use of public funding to pay for private education through vouchers. On June 27th, 2002, the United State Supreme Court in Zelman, Superintendent of Public Instruction of Ohio, et al, vs. Simmons-Harris et al., ruled that vouchers were indeed constitutional, thus leading the way for the establishment of new voucher programs throughout the United States. Supporters of such options contend that the existence of such programs allow low-income children in poor performing schools the opportunity to attend private schools. Critics argue that these options weaken the public school system by diverting resources to private schools and also pose a threat to the separation of church and state.
To date, 12 states have implemented either a voucher, tax credit or tax deduction program. Since the decision in the Zelman case, states including Colorado, Maine, Mississippi, Texas and Virginia all introduced voucher legislation in the 2003 legislative session. However, in April, Colorado became the first to pass a state-wide voucher program. Prior to the establishment of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Pilot Program, Florida was the only state to have a statewide program. Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Cleveland, Ohio limit scholarships to individual school districts, while Maine and Vermont have long-standing variants on voucher programs.
Tax credits and tax deduction programs are also controversial. Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico, grant tax credits or deductions to persons or groups that contribute money to an organization then distributes that money in the form of student scholarships or public school grants. Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota grant credits or deductions to parents for their education-related expenses.
Although it is unclear how the Zelman case will influence school choice policy, it is true that existing choice programs deserve to be analyzed because they will inevitably serve as the template for future voucher programs. The ruling also raise significant issues for state-level lawmakers While the constitutional question has now been addressed, legislators will need to sort out other issues including the impact of vouchers on student achievement, the cost of voucher programs and their effectiveness.
Voucher Arguments
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Supporters Argue that Vouchers: |
Opponents Contend that |
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Allow low-income students a wider range of educational opportunities. |
Vouchers divert dollars from public schools thus weakening them. |
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Force public schools to improve in order to compete with parochial and private schools. |
Vouchers are a misuse of public money due to the lack of accountability standards for private schools |
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Offer a better education due to the absence of bureaucracy |
The amount of the voucher is not enough so poor children are able to attend the most expensive private schools. |
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Give parents more influence over their child's education |
Vouchers lower the quality of public education by removing the most informed parents and students thus increasing segregation in the schools along socioeconomic lines. |
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