News Release

September 22, 2003

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School Vouchers: Better for D.C. Students, Taxpayers Alike
Washington, D.C., private schools affordable, offer high-quality education

WASHINGTON--As the Washington, D.C. public schools continue to provide a substandard education educational experience to many students, nearly a third of District parents have turned to charter or parochial schools as an alternative. Many students, however, remain trapped in a worsening system with no apparent light at the end of the tunnel. According to a new Cato Institute study by education policy analyst Casey Lartigue Jr., school vouchers can offer those who want them a way out.

In "School Choice in the District of Columbia: Saving Taxpayers Money, Increasing Opportunities for Children," Lartigue surveys the cost and availability of private and independent schools in the D.C. area. The study finds that these alternatives often operate at less cost per pupil than public schools, and that numerous desks are waiting to be filled outside of the public school system.

While there is disagreement about the actual cost of public schools, it is clear that most private schools operate more efficiently. "Almost 70 percent... of private elementary schools and 18.2 percent of private high schools in the District cost less than $7,500 per year," Lartigue writes. Private education becomes even more affordable when nearby schools in Virginia and Maryland are included.

The study finds that these schools would have many available openings for D. C. students. There are an estimated 2,925 seats available at schools within the city and an additional 3,407 seats available in the surrounding area.

In contrast to the private schools, the District's public schools are overspending and have been facing budget deficits. Many facilities are underutilized and in disrepair. Public schools could be merged to lower operating expenses while surplus buildings could be converted to charter schools or auctioned off to educational entrepreneurs, writes Lartigue.

The deficiencies of the D.C. school system are well known, and school vouchers would help to alleviate them. Lartigue concludes: "Taxpayers would benefit because children would be educated at lower-cost private schools in the area. Low-income families would benefit from being able to choose among a range of public, private, and charter schools to serve their needs. Most of all, children in the District would benefit from competition created by public, private, and charter schools vying for their tuition dollars."