Official studies of voucher plans in Cleveland and Milwaukee conclude that vouchers don't improve overall student achievement. In Milwaukee, Professor Alex Molnar's comparison of student achievement found that public school students attending schools with smaller class sizes registered greater achievement gains than students in the voucher schools. The public supports vouchers. Given the choice, an overwhelming majority of Americans would rather improve public schools than pay for vouchers. Both polls show that Americans would rather invest in improving public schools than bankroll private school tuition with tax dollars.
Vouchers give every parent the choice to send their children to the school of their choosing.
In the private school world, choice belongs only to private school administrators. They choose which students are admitted to their schools. Private schools have the right to reject or accept any student, regardless of whether the student holds a voucher. Experience has shown voucher programs weed out applicants, taking only the best and brightest students from public schools. Students in special education programs are the most often rejected, since three-quarters of private schools offer no special ed programs.