The ABC’s of School Choice
 

The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice is the legacy foundation of Milton and Rose Friedman founded to promote universal school choice as the most effective and fair way to improve the quality of K-12 education in America. Following are some key questions often asked and which research now provides solid answers.

Does school choice have a positive academic impact? YES- studies done over the past dozen years show that school choice boosts student achievement and graduation rates.

How does school choice affect public schools? More than 20 credible studies consistently show that school choice improves public school performance, compelling both public and private schools to go out of their way to attract and retain students. Not a single empirical study has shown that public school performance declined when exposed to school choice programs.

Does school choice harm public school funding? NO. When students leave public schools using vouchers or tax credits, they free up more money for the students who remain. States and cities with school choice programs have all increased their per pupil instructional spending in the years following school choice. The cost of a voucher or scholarship for a school choice student is far less than what would have been spent if the student stayed in public school. Across the nation the average public school expenditure per pupil is about 65% more than the private school, most of which are religious schools. In New York state, the public school expenditures per pupil are more than 100% greater than the private schools. This means that NYS taxpayers and NYS public schools would benefit far more than the average with school choice.

What is the impact of school choice on encouraging civic values?
Research shows that private schools and school choice programs advance good citizenship and democratic values. Students at private schools tend to be more tolerant of the rights of others , more likely to vote, and more likely to volunteer than students at public schools.

Are participating private schools held accountable? YES. Private schools are accountable to parents who are free to remove their children at any time and to various government entities.

Does school choice help school integration?
YES. The research shows that students in school choice programs attend more integrated schools than their public school counterparts. All available empirical research shows that choice is moving students into schools that are far less segregated than public schools.

Can school choice help students with special needs? YES. Providing school choice to students with special needs allows families unhappy with their assigned public school to find a program that better meets their child’s needs. After 10 years, Florida’s McKay program for special needs students has more than 20,000 participating students, which is the largest program of its kind in America.