Does school choice SERVE the students who need it most?
Yes. Research shows that prior to receiving a voucher, the majority of participating students score well below the national average on standardized tests. In Milwaukee, for example, children scored in the 31st percentile. In New York, children scored in the 27th percentile. In addition, a recent study showed that the majority of charter schools in America serve academically under-served children. Basically, prior to receiving a voucher, students perform in the bottom third academically. Moreover, since voucher programs in Milwaukee and Cleveland have income eligibility requirements equal to 175% and 200% of the federal poverty level, they level the economic playing field between parents who have money and those who don’t. Conclusion: school choice programs serve the students who need them most. They also level the economic playing field.
