Charter schools are privately run with federal funding. They have no duty to act in compliance with the conditions of the government but to operate independently. Schools have diverse enrollment proportions, ranging from a handful to thousands of students. For example, the number of students attending charter schools in the United States is expected to be three million (Bettinger 133). The demand for these schools is growing, leading the government to use more funds to open more. Vouchers offered by governments to these charter schools assist in subsidizing school fees for the students, most of whom are needy, thus enabling them to attend schools of their choice (Cannon, Bartley and Harrison 1). An opportunity to make choices and school vouchers are the advantages for charter schools. Upon the establishment of these schools, parents and students have the opportunity of selecting the school they want to go to without necessarily having to attend public specific schools (Berends and Waddington 2). In this way, parents feel that the taxes they pay to the government are accounted for and that they are putting to use their money. Low-income students get a chance to acquire higher standard of education, which brings to an end the imbalance between the rich and the poor. Private schools are known to offer better education than primary schools, up to more than two times. The only barrier between the two is financing, and this is what the government does offer. Funding private schools to allow in public school students helps break this barrier and carries the merit of proper public funds utilization. Secondly, these resources invested in these schools are well utilized by the needy students from public schools.
Level of competition in subsidized schools through government vouchers is extremely high in voucher schools as compared to public schools. Most citizens desire that their children get education from a school with enough competition to ensure that they work hard (Sweetland 3). Similarly, given the high demand for private schools, there is the likelihood of more new private schools to emerge. In this event, there will be an increase in competitiveness among students in these resulting into great performance among students. On the same note, teachers have to work hard to improve the quality of education they offer to their students. Completion helps in efficiency gains as private and public schools try to improve their standards and efficiency at lowest costs (Lubienski and Lubienski 3). Consequently, any innovations are made which end up improving the education system.
Charter schools are a total hybrid between public and private schools thus they are highly preferred. To start with, introduction of public school students to private schools brings an interaction and sharing of ideas, challenges, and talents. The academically talented students can share their knowledge and viewpoints with the academically week students (Fabricant and Michelle 2). At the end of the day, a balance will almost be struck and all will be comfortable interacting with others. Secondly, this hybrid ensures that there is no discrimination of students based on any bias, be it color, race, family, disability, sex, religion or any other basis. All the students are on the watch out and can easily report to their parents about the conditions of the learning environment.
Inclusivity and cost of education in voucher schools makes them more attractive. The cost of educating children in voucher schools is greatly lower since the system saves up to $42 million for public school every year (Bifulco and Ladd 50). Money that could be vested many students is directed to the few remaining ensuring that resources are not depleted. Though the program costs a lot to the US government, it is characterized with saving a lot of the public schools. Relieving parents the burden of funding education in private schools assists them save more and invest in other development activities. Most parents desire to enroll their children in voucher schools based on a religious factor. Unlike public schools, which might be seen as a place for specific religions, voucher schools absorb all students regardless of their religion, may it be Muslim, Christian, Hindu or Buddhist. In this regard, they need not to struggle a lot looking for alternative schools for them since any accessible voucher school would be a good fit for their students. This room for inclusiveness is what gives them an upper hand in students_x0092_ enrollment. However, there are arguments that government funding for these schools is a motive and intention of funding religious education aides. However, the claim that such funding is against the law of separation between government and religion is unfounded.
From the above discussion it can be seen that offering of school vouchers to voucher school is a very important booster to the education sector to many nations, in particular view to the United States. The influence it has on learners and their parents cannot be underestimated. This practice should therefore be emphasized and put into practice by all nations around the globe since it brings a new face in the education sector.
Bettinger, Eric P. “The Effect of Charter Schools on Charter Students and Public Schools.” Economics of Education Review 24.2 (2005): 133-147.
Berends, Mark, and R. Joseph Waddington. “School Choice in Indianapolis: Effects of Charter, Magnet, Private, and Traditional Public Schools.” Education Finance and Policy (2016).
Bifulco, Robert, and Helen F. Ladd. “The Impacts of Charter Schools on Student Achievement: Evidence from North Carolina.” Education 1.1 (2006): 50-90.
Cannon, Susanne E., Bartley R. Danielsen, and David M. Harrison. “School Vouchers and Home Prices: Premiums in School Districts Lacking Public Schools.” Journal of Housing Research 24.1 (2015): 1-20.
Fabricant, Michael, and Michelle Fine. Charter Schools and the Corporate Makeover of Public Education: What’s at Stake?. Teachers College Press, 2015.
Lubienski, Christopher, and Sarah Lubienski. “Charter, Private, Public Schools, and Academic Achievement: New Evidence from NAEP Mathematics Data.” (2006).
Lubienski, Christopher A., and Sarah Theule Lubienski. The Public School Advantage: Why Public Schools Outperform Private Schools. University of Chicago Press, 2013.
Sweetland, Scott R. “Revisiting the Role of Vouchers and Charter Schools in the Educational Market Place.” Selected National Education Finance 2013 Conference Papers. 2014.