10.9.2024
5 Key Takeaways From States with School Voucher Programs
Public Policy Partner Will Powers shares how vouchers threaten Kentucky's rural public schools by diverting essential funding, contributing to segregation, and failing to deliver better educational outcomes—all while lacking accountability and potentially costing the state billions.
Vouchers Divert Funding from Rural Public Schools
In Kentucky, more than 90% of students are enrolled in public schools, and many of these students reside in rural areas where private schools are often unavailable. Research from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy shows that public schools in Eastern Kentucky’s rural counties could lose as much as 30% of their annual funding if a voucher program is enacted.
Vouchers Contribute to Increased Segregation in Schools
Public schools in Kentucky are prohibited from discriminating based on factors such as disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, religion, or pregnancy. However, under a voucher system, public funds can be directed to private schools, which are allowed to discriminate on these grounds. One of the first voucher program in the county was established by Virginia in response to the Brown vs Board of Education decision mandating the desegregation of public schools.
Vouchers Do Not Lead to Better Educational Outcomes
Extensive research suggests that voucher programs do not enhance student performance. In fact, recent studies from four states reveal that students using vouchers often experience poorer academic results compared to their peers. A Milwaukee study even showed improved outcomes for students who moved from private schools back to public ones.
Vouchers Are Costly for States
The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy estimates that implementing a Florida-style voucher program would cost the state over $1 billion annually—about the same as employing more than 10,000 teachers. In states like Arizona, the cost of vouchers has expanded to consume nearly half of the annual education budget.
Vouchers Lack Essential Accountability
A study by the EdWeek Research Center found that most states with voucher programs lack sufficient transparency and accountability measures. Among the 28 states surveyed, only 11 require teachers in voucher-accepting schools to hold a bachelor’s degree, and only five require teaching licenses.