32 Large-scale voucher programs would share many of the characteristics of Arizona s largely unregulated charter school program and may, therefore, similarly reduce educational equity. There is evidence that all school choice programs, public school choice as well as voucher and charter school programs, increase student stratification by income and other family background characteristics but do not necessarily produce academic gains. Godwin, Kemerer, and Martinez, in their analysis of the characteristics of families that chose to participate in either public or private school choice programs in San Antonio, found significant differences between choosing and non-choosing families. Choosing families also had higher educational expectations and were more active in their children s education. In addition, their children had higher standardized test scores.
Choice programs require additional money to operate.
Choice programs have the potential to widen the gap between rich and poor school districts. 34 Bruce Fuller, in a 1995 review, drew conclusions similar to those of the Carnegie report. 36 Martin Carnoy drew a similar conclusion based on an analysis of the effects of school privatization in Chile and other countries. Last update March 7, 2001.