The History of Vouchers and School Reform

Published March 28, 2023

Hoover senior fellow Terry Moe explores the issues surrounding school choice and vouchers. For example, how can a voucher system without government regulation ensure that students are actually learning something? The simple answer is that it can’t. The government has to be involved in school choice in some form to ensure learning.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the pros and cons of vouchers being regulated or unregulated by the state? 
2. Whose role is it to provide education: local, state, or federal government?

Additional Resources:

• Watch “The Politics of Institutional Reform,” with Terry Moe on PolicyEd. Available here.
• Watch “Teachers Unions vs. Students,” with Terry Moe on PragerU. Available here.
• Read “Vouchers Help African American Students Go to College,” by Paul Peterson via Education Next. Available here.