The private sector infrastructure is finite. New schools are expensive to build. It seems only reasonable to expect large numbers of kids already in private schools to benefit from vouchers. This type of point-counterpoint is emblematic of the debate we will be hearing from now until the election in November. The money issue is certainly a valid one.
Critics fear that estimate is terribly low.
There are about 220,000 students in Michigan's private schools. Part of the problem is that vouchers are so new, there's little empirical evidence one way or another on how well they work. Even the experience in Milwaukee, where they've been in place for a decade, is by no means cut and dried. Dueling studies have drawn different conclusions as to the effectiveness of the programs there. To make matters worse, the initial legislation, which mandated annual evaluations by the University of Wisconsin, expired after five years.