The Case for School Vouchers
Seal of the US Department of Education

The Case for School Vouchers

Public Schools Cater to Exceptional Students

Public schools have shifted from serving the general student population to focusing primarily on exceptional students. This shift occurs in two extremes: legally mandated services for students with physical, emotional, or mental challenges, and elective programs for academically gifted students.

By law, schools must allocate significant resources to support students with special needs, which can be costly and impact overall school budgets. On the other hand, schools also invest heavily in advanced programs for gifted students, such as college preparatory classes with smaller class sizes. These programs attract affluent families to the district, raising property values and, consequently, school funding through increased property taxes.

OK, so what’s the problem?

This focus on exceptional students leaves those who are neither struggling nor gifted with fewer resources and opportunities. There are fewer extracurricular activities, like sports, and fewer elective courses, such as shop or music. As a result, these students receive a less diverse education compared to previous generations.

Moreover, the influx of wealthy families into certain districts drives up housing prices, pushing middle and lower-income families into less desirable school districts. Students in these districts, including the academically gifted, suffer from lower academic standards and a lack of college prep classes.

So what is the alternative?

Most states require children to attend school until age 16, which is beneficial. However, this mandate does not specify that education must be provided by public institutions. Many families lack the financial means to send their children to private schools, leaving those who aren't exceptional at either end of the spectrum to receive a mediocre education. This puts them at a disadvantage compared to those who receive a tailored, high-quality education.

School vouchers offer a solution. By providing funding, a free market of schools would emerge to cater to a diverse student body. These schools could specialize and offer education more suited to individual needs. Over time, competition would lead to better schools overall. While teacher's unions might resist this change, many teachers would find specialized schools more rewarding, benefiting both educators and students.

But hey, where’s the money for all of this?

The necessary funds are already in the system, but the allocation needs rethinking. Let's start with the U.S. Department of Education.

U.S. Department of Education

Established in 1980, the Department of Education aimed to improve education nationwide by consolidating federal programs and providing a unified voice for education. Since its inception, approximately $2.1 trillion has been allocated to it.

Critics argue that federal oversight leads to a one-size-fits-all approach, ignoring regional differences and needs. They believe local and state governments are better suited to address specific educational requirements. Additionally, the department is seen as an example of bureaucratic inefficiency, with a significant budget but limited impact on educational outcomes. Eliminating the Department of Education could reduce federal spending and bureaucracy, potentially leading to more innovative, effective local policies.

For fiscal year 2024, the department's budget is $67.4 billion. With about 50.7 million students in public elementary and secondary schools, this equates to roughly $1,329 per student.

State Spending Per Student

On average, states spend $12,798 per pupil, with a median of $11,455. New York spends the most at $24,875 per student, ranking 14th in academic achievement, while Idaho spends the least at $7,440, ranking 32nd.

Combining the Department of Education's contribution ($1,329) with the average state spending ($12,798) gives an average of $14,127 per student. This is comparable to Illinois, which spends $14,685 per student and ranks 18th in academic achievement.

But aren’t private schools ridiculously expensive?

In 2024, the average annual tuition for private schools in the U.S. is $12,832. This varies by school type and state. For example, private elementary school tuition averages $11,915 per year, while private high school tuition averages $16,408. Tuition also varies significantly by state, with Connecticut at the high end ($29,433) and South Dakota at the low end ($4,212). Religious schools often have lower tuition rates, with Catholic elementary schools averaging $4,840 and secondary schools $11,240. Nonsectarian schools average $25,700 annually.

Drum roll, please…

So, as it turns out, there is plenty of money available for each and every child in the United States to receive a high-quality education, more suitably tailored to their needs than that provided by a generalized public school education. There are really only two issues: 1) how the money is allocated, and; 2) how do parents disassemble powerful teacher’s unions that are impeding this reallocation.

It really comes down to choosing whether you want a centralized, bureaucratic agency dictating how education dollars are spent, or if you want more localized and personalized control. Voting certainly has consequences.

Data

I created several tables of raw data. Unfortunately, LinkedIn doesn't have the flexibility for me to display these in any meaningful way. I also published this article on my personal blog. You may find the tables at the end of the essay here.

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#Education #SchoolVouchers #DepartOfEducation


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