School Vouchers

             systems. Christopher Jencks, a leading sociologist, is also a strong.
             proponent of vouchers. The State of Vermont has used vouchers since.
             1869, and every year, a growing number of cities throughout the.
             country are discovering the benefits of school vouchers.
             Finally, some people support vouchers for religious reasons. These.
             people want an academic environment that will also reinforce their.
             moral values. Like private schools, parochial schools also offer a.
             lower cost education alternative to cities that opt to include them in.
             their voucher systems. The broad range of supporters exemplifies the.
             non-partisan, racially-diverse appeal of school vouchers.
             Financing Education K-12 With School Vouchers Designed to Meet Local.
             Needs: .
             One benefit of school vouchers is their potential flexibility. In.
             practice, the financing and administration of voucher systems vary.
             between localities and states according to funding sources, funding.
             amounts, populations served, and regulatory provisions. Milwaukee, New.
             Orleans, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and even Puerto Rico have all.
             designed voucher systems for low income families. Vermont has one of.
             the most unique voucher programs: tuition vouchers are extended to all.
             families living in towns which cannot afford their own schools or do.
             not belong to union districts.
             Addressing Inequities: .
             While vouchers are not a panacea for all of the ills afflicting public.
             education today, they offer one means to address the inequities of the.
             current system which is supported by property taxes. Opponents argue.
             that vouchers will be abused by the wealthy who will use them to.
             attend private schools. This argument rests on the notion that public.
             schools are equitable schools accessible to all taxpayers. However,.
             the vast majority of wealthy families attend public schools in.
             exclusive neighborhoods. .
             Looked at from the public school side, the 1976 census data show that.
             83 percent of all students from the wealthiest families in the country.