This places a natural constraint on the number of students who would leave the public system. In addition, experiences in places like Arizona and Minnesota show that it is mostly families whose children attend poorly performing schools who transfer to private schools when school choice becomes available. Many Utah parents are satisfied with the public schools their children attend. The actual number of students who would transfer from the state school system to a private school would also depend on the dollar amount of the tuition tax credit being offered. This would not overload the private schools or seriously deplete public school enrollment.
Freedom has inherent value.
Knowing that there are other choices available would empower parents and students using public schools, giving them a consumer's voice in demanding quality education. Public schools would likely respond favorably, as they have in other states, to the increased challenge of competition from private schools. Rather than increase the already large tax burden on Utah's families, Utah teachers and taxpayers should advocate new approaches to funding education. Utah teachers and Utah children deserve more, and the UTTC is the best way to give children the high quality education they deserve. Permission to reprint this article in whole or in part is granted provided credit is given to the author and to the Sutherland Institute.