Vouchers Improve Public Schools

A new review of studies by Greg Forster of the Friedman Foundation finds that public school systems have benefited from voucher programs:

"Contrary to the widespread claim that vouchers hurt public schools, the empirical evidence concludes that in fact, vouchers improve public schools," Forster says. "No empirical study has ever found that vouchers had a negative impact on public schools."

A total of 24 school choice programs now exist in 14 states and the District of Columbia, serving over 160,000 students.

Forster looked at 17 empirical studies which examined the impact of vouchers on academic achievement in public schools. All but one found that vouchers improved public schools and none found that vouchers harm public schools.