Can a school choice program lead to more integrated schools?
Yes. The research shows that students in school choice programs attend more integrated schools than their public school counterparts. All the available empirical research finds that vouchers are moving students into private schools that are substantially less segregated than public schools. Private schools in voucher programs are less racially segregated than their public school counterparts. Vouch¬ers break down neighborhood barriers and draw students together, providing a more integrated school expe¬rience. The empirical research shows that vouchers put students into less segregated schools. On average, private school classrooms are more integrated than nearby public school classrooms. Our nation’s public schools and districts are heavily segregated. Public schools are so segregated primarily because of resi¬dential segregation. Attendance at public schools is largely determined by where people live, which guaran¬tees that segregation in housing patterns will always be reproduced in
