Vouchers What?

A recent twitter conversation has made it clear that there is a lots of confusion on the topic of vouchers.  It appears the interpretation of vouchers means money will be taken away from public schools.

So what does a voucher system mean, and how would it change help or hurt schools?

 A voucher system is a method of allocating funds per student.  This is different because currently funds are allocated to a State, then to the District and finally to the school.  States vary in the process, but typically this is the funding process.

 A Federal Voucher  program would change the funding system, so a school is funded per child.   Children regardless of tax bracket would have a set amount of money used for the school they are attending.

As a person who used the Voucher system in Florida.  We have a  child with special needs, we used the voucher program to send him to a private school, because it was better for his needs.  The voucher programs did not pay for the full tuition, but paid for the amount that was allotted.  This allotment was assigned to my son by the state, and could be used for a public, charter, or even private (when accepted) The voucher program has nothing to do with income, but rather part of a bigger system that could have (if we stayed in Florida) followed him to a State College and even pay the full tuition.  .

Charter and Private school may still have a roll, as determined by states, but as you read from the following article, you will learn two major facts:Charter Schools

1. Charter Schools do not pull students away from public school
2. There is not enough research done to conclude the effectiveness of Charter Schools

A voucher system may or may not improve performance, but it will ensure that federal funding is being applied equally.

Update:  A very good point was made, that children with Special Needs will need additional funding.  I agree.  The question becomes how they do that.  Again, in Florida they do have a system that allots more money based on the Diagnosis.