Denying school vouchers maintains the need for social programs.

The basic problem with your position is that the broader voucher system you propose the more damage it could do to the already existing, yet admittedly disappointing system. On the other hand the smaller the program, the less likely it is to gain approval or to be successful. To make the scheme that you have outlined to work it you would have to fund the vouchers in some manner. Most voucher programs take money from the public schools from which the student comes. The problem with this means of funding is that the reduction of one student does not really reduce the costs to school. After all the heating bill does not reduce 1/30th because one student leaves. In fact the heating bill should be slightly higher because of the lack of students body heat. If a class full of students at least enter the voucher program then the school from which the children leave will suffer a loss of income, undoubtedly making the school worse for the remaining student. Unfortunately, most voucher schemes are actually intended to destroy the public school system in the manner outlined above. Unfortunately, very few private schools participate in these schemes. Many after all got their start as alternatives for white students who did not want to attend integrated schools. Even if they are not segregated as such at present they are not all that keen about throwing their doors to the deserving poor. The few that participate are generally religious schools. Which is fine as far as it goes for those who desire such an education. I myself am a bit conflicted about religious schools. I attended a Lutheran school from preschool to 7th grade. I enjoyed the first few years. But from fourth grade on, I hated every single minute of it. I thanked whatever deity I still believed in constantly that I never was forced to darken the doorstep of such a school again. Lutheran school certainly had a role in setting the morals by which I live my life by today. But like many attendees, it put me of Christianity permanently. I can think of no uglier face of Christianity than Christian schools. If you wanted to provide enough money to provide places in the better schools you would have to raise taxes. I think you would find an increase in property taxes for vouchers for people who make 200% the poverty level, who are not normally homeowners, would be difficult to come by. In a sense a small version of what you envisioned exists already. Many of the posher Catholic schools provide scholarships. I believe they generally aim to have 10% of the student body be scholarship students. I have known several inner city students who were very happy to have those scholarships. If you explain how you plan to fund these vouchers without withdrawing funds from present school system and what sort of schools would be available to those who receive vouchers, it would be easer to judge the program. Things to consider are the fact that Catholic schools make a large percent of private schools, many protestants home school, and many of student receiving vouchers may be protestant African-Americans. Also schools receiving vouchers will unlikely want to subject themselves to requirements placed on public schools. If, for example, schools were required to ascertain the citizenship of every student, many Mexican immigrant children will probably transfer to Catholic schools who would understandably be hesitant to ascertain the citizenship of all of its students. Also what is to become of the gay, Muslim, and even Jewish students? The problem is that unless you expand the program well beyond what you have outlined, it is unlikely that schools that would welcome these students would be encouraged to participate. I understand you're dream, but it is simultaneously too daring and not daring enough. It would undoubtedly be a dream for some, but unfortunately it almost certainly would be a nightmare for more. If I were you, I'd abandon the voucher scheme and try to help raise money for scholarships.