US News & Comment

Last week citizens in Utah voted down a measure to offer vouchers to families who wish to send their children to private schools.  This is the latest in the battle that has raged across the nation pitting school choice advocates against powerful teacher’s unions.

Vouchers are generally seen as the best way to let parents opt out of the Public School System and seek alternative education options.  Supporters contend that allowing parents to send children to the school of their choice, will introduce the market forces of competiton into the school system and improve public and private schools.  Opponents cite cost and contend that the state will end up paying the tuition for the children of wealthy families.

What few people have discussed is how the private schools feel about the plan.  If private schools, many of which are religious in nature, begin accepting government vouchers, how long before they are subject to the same restrictions that have been placed on public schools?  The Utah bill already stated that private schools receiving vouchers would have to be accountable to the state for academic standards. 

Government subsidies always come with strings.  Private colleges that have accepted federal funds have been required to conform to certain government requirements.  The Boy Scouts of America have been taken to court several times on the basis of taking money while maintaining exclusions in their recruitment standards.  Private schools may or may not be willing to alter their standards in order to be eligible to receive government vouchers.

It then raises the question, if private schools must meet government “standards” in order to receive vouchers, will there be any difference between private and public schools?  What choices will be left to parents when these are all the same?

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