Special-Ed Vouchers?

February 22, 2004

There are many arguments against vouchers (all of which we're willing to knock down, by the way), but one favorite is that all the "good" kids will get the vouchers, while the neediest or most difficult students will be abandoned to the ever-worsening public schools.

Specifically, voucher opponents question where special-education children will end up, because surely no private schools will take learning-disabled kids, right? This is implied because we're often reminded by critics that private schools can pick and choose their students--thus there must be rampant front-door discrimination.

No evidence is ever given for any of these charges.

This week the Rocky Mountain News had a story on parents and educators debating Special Education Vouchers in Colorado.

The plan (supported by Republicans, opposed by Democrats) would target the neediest children from the poorest families, and would simply have the state's per-pupil funding follow the child to a private school. Currently, if a parent pulls a child out of public school the school district gets to keep the funding as if they were still educating Johnny.

Parents fell on both sides of the issue. One parent credited a private school with the "phenomenal" progress of her daughter, a child who supposedly wasn't ever going to walk or talk or have any sort of comprehension. Another parent was disappointed by one private school, and credits the Littleton public schools with the blossoming of his disabled daughter. This second parent opposed special-ed vouchers.

See if this argument sounds familiar:

Some parents spoke out against the bill, saying children with the mildest needs would make use of the vouchers and leave the most severely impacted behind in public schools with less money.

That petard has hoisted many a voucher opponent, for no evidence is given for this charge.

It would seem that there currently are special education students being served by both public schools and private schools. Since some parents are satisfied with private schools, and others are happy with the public system, who could argue against having the state per-pupil funding follow the child wherever the parent chooses?

The argument is one of choice.