Indeed, the U.S. is one of the last remaining Western countries to deny educational choice to its citizens. Our public education system has become so intolerant of any religious values that President Clinton and Republican Congressional leaders alike have addressed the issue in recent months, and it is clear that many parents are hesitant to enroll their children in public schools which are more likely to be hostile toward, than share, their family's values. School choice programs which allow attendance in private and religious schools would address this problem by allowing all parents to decide the proper school environment for their child, whether that is found in a public, private, or religious school. Opponents of these policies have offered a range of reasons why school choice will not or cannot work. The first is the issue of the separation of church and state, that public tax dollars should not subsidize religious institutions.
Financial aid is also available to pre-school students who attend religious schools.
It is primary and secondary school students who are currently not allowed this option. Another objection is that school choice will destroy the public school system. The fact is that school choice will only give the public system the missing incentive it needs to improve. Schools which improve will survive, and schools which do not will be forced to close. Overall, school choice programs have had few legislative successes thus far, but support for them is growing across the country.