Voucher proponents have not provided strong evidence that they improve academic achievement. Research conducted on voucher programs has been conflicting at best. After more than nine years of voucher experiments, a clear and statistically valid success story has not yet emerged. Vouchers create unnecessary and costly administrative burdens on states and districts. At a time when policy-makers are calling for more education flexibility, voucher programs would impose new levels of administrative management and oversight.
Vouchers only benefit a small percentage of children.
National PTA has other concerns about vouchers too. They divide communities and prevent substantive education reforms from moving forward. Voucher fights are ongoing in state legislatures, in the courts and at the local level. Numerous opinion polls continuously demonstrate that the public strongly supports public education. Accordingly, policies should focus on strengthening public schools, not promoting proposals that split the community and only help a select few students.