ProPublica attacks Arizona school vouchers, ignoring how competition is driving public school improvements

October 17, 2024

By Tim Worstall

ProPublica recently reported that school choice in Arizona is not a one-size-fits-all solution. However, they extend this observation to argue that school choice should not exist in Arizona because it hasn’t resolved every problem. This argument appears to stem from the fact that school choice challenges a key power base for progressives and woke advocates—the public school system—making any critique useful in advancing their agenda.

The issue highlighted by ProPublica is that not all areas, such as certain zip codes or neighborhoods, have access to higher-quality private schools that parents can easily send their children to. Additionally, school transportation is not always free. As a result, some lower-income families are not yet fully utilizing the voucher system:

“Not a Choice for Everyone: In Arizona, which now offers school vouchers to all students, lower-income families are using the program less than wealthier ones, a ProPublica analysis shows.”

“Barriers to Entry: Lower-income families said that the location of private schools and additional costs for things like transportation, tuition, and meals keep them from using vouchers.”

The argument then becomes:

“These parents made a clear school choice of their own, Nuñez, Zavala, and Velasquez said: to say no to vouchers.”

This conclusion is not particularly surprising. School vouchers are a highly debated political issue in Arizona, and ProPublica has consistently taken a stance against vouchers. Thus, they appear to grasp at any reason to support their opposition.

The key question, however, is not whether low-income families are using vouchers at all. The real issue is whether the quality of education available to low-income families is improving. Even if no low-income family uses a single voucher, if the mere presence of the voucher system forces public schools to improve due to competition, then the program is working.

It’s also important to note that Arizona’s universal voucher program has only been in place for two years, since 2022. The current lack of private schools in certain low-income areas is a challenge that may resolve over time. More private schools opening in those areas could address the transportation issue and other barriers.

Even this potential solution may not be necessary. The mothers interviewed by ProPublica for this story noted that the availability of vouchers prompted them to seriously consider different educational options for their children. As a result, they became more involved in their local public schools, volunteering and participating more actively. This increased involvement shows that the voucher and school choice program is already having a positive impact—by encouraging parents to engage more directly with the public schools.

These families may have chosen not to use vouchers, which is precisely the point of the program—choice. Meanwhile, public schools are benefiting from increased parental involvement, which leads to improvement. That’s the ultimate goal: better education. In this sense, the vouchers are working.

Competition consistently leads to improvement. The possibility of losing students to other schools motivates public schools to enhance their offerings. It is monopolies that stifle progress, not competition or school vouchers.

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