There has long been a debate over school vouchers in the U.S. , but many other countries have also been experimenting with vouchers. In Chile, vouchers have long been available to provide parents the opportunity to choose their child’s school regardless of ethnic or socioeconomic class, but recent research has shown that such programs may still be promoting segregation.
The National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education has posted research by Gregory Elacqua on their website reviewing school choice and segregation between public and private schools in Chile and among different private sectors. His research revealed that even with vouchers, private schools serve a lower proportion of vulnerable and indigenous children than public schools and among private schools, those for-profit were more likely to enroll vulnerable and indigenous students than non-profit private schools.
BoardBuzz finds this research from Chile interesting and hopes future research is done reviewing the effects of voucher programs around the world. NSBA continues to oppose private school tuition tax credits and vouchers which divert funds from public schools in order to help subsidize the tuition of private and religious school students. For more information against vouchers, visit NSBA‘s Voucher Strategy Center.
Oh for heaven’s sake–let people go where they want to go! Quit forcing them to do something that they don’t want to do or send their kids to a certain school just so we can all “feel good” and have it “look diverse”. I mean, honestly–have we lost our minds?!!! What business is it of ours to question the parents? And what right do we have to force them to go to a certain school so that the color mix meets our politically correct sensiblities? As long as the school is not barring certain groups, then who cares?!