Why Do We Need Vouchers And Charter Schools?

The argument of school vouchers and charter school systems is a debate and heated topic being argued in small town school boards and also at the large Supreme Court level. The two topics of school vouchers and charter schools are being argued as school choice initiatives because they essentially allow the students’ parents to select the education and institution for their children that are not a part of traditional public school systems. The school voucher initiative or program provides parents a certificate that can be used as payment for enrollment at any school of their choice, rather than a public school that they would have been otherwise assigned to. On the other hand a charter school is publicly funded and has been exempt from many of the rules, statutes, and regulations that other public schools are forced to abide by. In exchange, the charter school has a detailed accountability when it comes to producing specific
Advocates for school choice emphasize that under current public school systems, parents with higher income means already utilize school choice by moving to neighborhoods with better, safer schools from spots that have failing or unsafe school systems. This group of parents argument is the school choice initiative will give any parents the freedom, despite their income level, to choose a school that offers the best or safest education (Chub and Moe). This would force schools to compete for parents and students by providing higher academic results and better safety. Schools that couldn’t measure up to the parent’s standards or that of a successful school would eventually fail and even face closing. Reformist concerned with the school choice movement can be appreciated for their efforts in looking to improve public education, but proposed changes have the potential to severely harm public education in the