Mae Duggan Offers Common Sense Reasons For School Vouchers

The announcement that several Catholic schools will be closing in St. Louis demonstrates once again the need for school choice in the city. A program that includes tuition vouchers would benefit the city’s school children, help to preserve neighborhoods and make the city more competitive in attracting residents.

A school voucher program allows parents to select whichever school they believe is best for their children — whether a public, private or parochial school. This is especially helpful for low-income families. But if Catholic and other private schools continue to close in the city, educational choices and opportunities will decline even further.

Despite numerous attempts, the St. Louis Public Schools seem beyond reform. Last year, test scores found that 52 of the city’s 94 grade schools did not meet state standards....By contrast, a voucher program would allow city students to attend a school like Cardinal Ritter High School in midtown St. Louis. The school has earned high marks for academic achievement and nurturing its students. The school boasts a graduation rate of nearly 100 percent and a college-placement rate of 95 percent.

School vouchers are similar to the GI Bill...

School vouchers are really about justice and equality.

Poorly educated students mean more poverty, which means more social problems, more crime and higher costs for taxpayers.

There is no better way to fight poverty than by providing excellent educational opportunities for all our children.

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