School Choice Saves Money and Helps Kids

Evidence builds, as political momentum grows in the states

By Martin F. Lueken. He is director of the Fiscal Research and Education Center at EdChoice. Excerpts: 

"My recent fiscal analysis of 40 educational choice programs from their inceptions through fiscal 2018 found the programs cumulatively saved taxpayers up to $28.3 billion on net, or $7,500 for each student who participated in these programs."

"Wherever choice programs are introduced, opponents inevitably argue they harm public schools and students who remain in them by “draining” much-needed resources. Some opposed to choice even go so far as claiming that these programs will lead to the “dismantling” of public school systems and an exodus of students.

These claims persist even though only 2% of all publicly funded K-12 students in states where choice programs operate participate in them, and these programs receive only 1% of the funding for public K-12 education. It appears that private school choice programs are educating kids at half the cost of public schools.

Research also indicates students who remain in public schools where choice programs exist improve academically. A 2019 meta-analysis, conducted by scholars at the University of Texas and elsewhere, concluded: “The lack of an overall negative impact on student outcomes might ease critics’ concerns that competition will hurt those students ‘left behind’ due to school-choice policies.”"