In fact, the studies have been mixed. Some studies do show a slight gain for voucher students, but it is modest at best and could be the result of other factors, such as increased parental involvement by parents of voucher students. Other studies purporting to show that voucher students outperform their public school counterparts have been conducted by researchers who strongly favor vouchers and have been debunked by objective scholars. In Milwaukee, site of the nation's first voucher plan, several studies showed little difference between the scores of voucher students and public school students on state-mandated tests. Legislators responded not by shutting down the program but by passing a law ending the testing of voucher students.
States are eager to experiment with vouchers.
In most states, voucher legislation is routinely voted down or never even comes up for a vote. Voucher bills are introduced by a small band of devoted followers in some states, but they have failed to gather widespread political support. D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization represents 60,000 members and allied houses of worship in all 50 states. For comments on this page, please contact the AU Webmaster . Americans United for Separation of Church and State, 2001.