Vouchers multiply even without public support 

Public funding of private K-12 schooling through vouchers continues to be a contentious issue across the U.S. Those in favor of vouchers argue that they improve educational programs by supporting competition in the system, offering students the option of attending participating private schools at state expense. Those opposed argue that this funds individuals’ private decisions to the detriment of the public school system (and public school students) and encourages segregated institutions. While a solid majority of Americans continues to oppose vouchers — 57% in this year’s PDK/Gallup poll, 63% and 70% in the two prior years, respectively (see p. K18) — we have nonetheless seen a rapid growth in the number of proposals in state legislatures over the past few years. (There has been a rapid increase in tax credit and education savings account programs as well, but we’ll leave those for another day.) 

While a solid majority of Americans continues to oppose vouchers, the number of voucher proposals considered by state legislatures has grown over the past few years.