Public Dollars, Private Schools: New Show-Me Institute Essay Released

Today, the Show-Me Institute released my new essay, “Public Dollars, Private Schools: Examining the Options in Missouri.” The paper helps clarify some misconceptions people often have about private school choice programs.

Here are some of the misconceptions:

1. All private school programs are the same. The fact of the matter is there are many different ways private school choice programs can be designed. Today, other states are using vouchers, tax credit scholarships, and education savings accounts to expand educational options for students. The paper explains some of the differences between these programs.
2. We cannot afford private school choice programs. Our current school funding formula is not fully funded. Therefore, some argue that we cannot start a new choice program. This argument is really a red herring. Private school choice programs can be designed to save the state money, not cost more. The reality is that we cannot afford to not investigate programs that might save the state money.
3. Students do not benefit from private school choice. The academic literature is clear, students benefit from private school choice. Below is a table I reproduced from a paper that the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice recently released. As the table makes clear, the most rigorous studies consistently find benefits from private school choice programs.

You can download the essay from the Show-Me Institute website.