Why Vouchers Won't Work: A Tool Kit for School Board

School Support This guide is intended to help public school leaders sort through the arguments that voucher proponents advance, examining who supports vouchers, what kinds of voucher proposals are surfacing, and what arguments proponents typically offer in their campaigns. The text gives public-school advocates the tools to recognize and refute the fallacies that voucher advocates advance. It provides the background to vouchers, describing why vouchers receive so much attention in urban areas and the broader political underpinnings of the pro-voucher movement. Reasons to oppose vouchers, including the claims that they undermine the unique value of public education, waste taxpayers ' dollars, and promote a divided America are likewise detailed. Suggestions for responding to pro-voucher arguments include contesting the assertion that taxpayers and public education will save money with vouchers. Tips for building a campaign against vouchers are provided, along with an overview of research on voucher programs, the success of public-school-choice programs, and the case against federal vouchers. Ten appendices offer an overview of current voucher projects, a list of national organizations opposing vouchers, a profile of private education, and other information. (RJM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Orr.