Universal School Vouchers

Over the last few years, a number of states have passed legislation to create universal or “open eligibility” school voucher programs, which allow any student to apply regardless of their family’s income or other factors. These laws have the potential to greatly undermine the public education system because they often result in unpredictable and excessive costs as well as fraud and abuse.

In states that have passed these laws, many private schools have simply raised their tuition and/or required families that already attend to apply for state funds. In effect, this becomes a subsidy for wealthy families and a publicly funded revenue stream for private and religious schools, at the expense of public schools and the vast majority of students who attend them.