The Supreme Court did step in somewhat in the fall of 1999 by lifting a temporary injunction to allow new students into Cleveland's voucher program until a higher court rendered a decision. As the presidential candidates debate the pros and cons of vouchers, the Supreme Court hasn't been much help in resolving the issue. In 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal after the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided for the Milwaukee voucher program. Refusing to hear the case allowed the tax-supported Milwaukee program, which provides funding for students to attend religious schools, to continue. In December 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear another appeal, this one regarding the Vermont policy of subsidizing private high school education while refusing funds for parochial institutions.
Researchers warn that the studies are still evaluating relatively new, small-scale systems.
The Taubman Center investigates numerous issues in education. Research has long supported that students who attend private schools generally score higher on math and reading tests compared with public school students. The same then would seem to hold true of students offered vouchers so they can attend private schools. For African Americans, we see gains in math and somewhat in reading, especially if the children are young,'' Peterson said. Test scores were higher in reading and math, seven national percentile points and five percentile points respectively, after one year.