Colorado

                                
                                
                 Arguments in favor of vouchers
                                
*   Achievement will increase as market competition makes 
    schools more responsive to student needs.

*   There will be less bureaucracy and more school-level 
    autonomy.

*   Staff motivation, leadership and morale will improve 
    and parent participation will increase.

*   Schools will become more diverse, innovative and 
    flexible.

*   Costs will decrease while efficiency increase.


                   Argument against vouchers
                                
*   Public funds will be used to support private schools.  
    Court cases will flourish and be costly.

*   No evidence exists that free-market competition by 
    itself will increase student achievement.

*   Inequality between schools will increase if students 
    tend to choose a few "top" schools.

*   Desegregation progress may be lost if students 
    distribute themselves largely by race or economic level.

*   Families of higher socioeconomic status will be better 
    able than poor families to make choices and carry them out.

Reference: ECS Clearinghouse. (1993). The Colorado voucher - Amendment 7: Constitutional amendment initiated by petition: An analysis. Denver, CO: Education Commission of the States.

Reprinted with permission of the ECS Clearinghouse, Phone: 303-299-3675, e-mail: clear@ecs.org