Fact Check: "School vouchers can contribute to increased racial and socioeconomic segregation in education."
What We Know
The claim that school vouchers can lead to increased racial and socioeconomic segregation is supported by various studies and reports. Research indicates that unregulated school choice programs often exacerbate segregation rather than alleviate it. According to a report by the Century Foundation, empirical evidence suggests that private-school voucher programs frequently fail to integrate schools along racial, religious, and socioeconomic lines. For instance, a study on the Louisiana Scholarship Program found that while public-school segregation decreased, private-school segregation increased, indicating that vouchers may not serve their intended purpose of promoting diversity (source-5).
Furthermore, the Institute for Democratic Education in America (IDRA) states that research consistently shows that voucher programs tend to increase racial segregation. They argue that this trend is concerning, as decreased racial segregation has been shown to benefit all students, regardless of their racial background.
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from multiple credible sources, including academic studies and reports from reputable organizations. The Century Foundation report specifically highlights two significant studies: one on the Louisiana Scholarship Program and another on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. Both studies indicated that students transferring from public to private schools often moved from majority-minority public schools to private schools that were also predominantly composed of similar demographic groups. This pattern suggests that vouchers do not effectively promote racial integration.
Additionally, the American Progress report discusses the historical context of school vouchers, noting that they were originally designed to circumvent desegregation efforts, further reinforcing the idea that vouchers can perpetuate segregation. The reliability of these sources is high, as they are based on empirical research and analysis from established educational organizations.
While proponents of school vouchers, including former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, argue that these programs can lead to greater integration, the evidence presented by the studies contradicts this assertion. The IDRA emphasizes that despite claims from voucher advocates, the data shows a clear trend toward increased segregation, making their arguments less credible.
Conclusion
The claim that school vouchers can contribute to increased racial and socioeconomic segregation in education is True. The evidence from multiple studies and reports indicates that unregulated school choice programs often exacerbate existing segregation rather than mitigate it. The historical context and empirical data support the conclusion that vouchers do not fulfill their intended purpose of promoting diversity and integration in schools.
