School Choice Once Backed Black Students, Now Benefits the Middle Class

School voucher programs that allow families to direct public funds towards private school tuition have gained significant momentum across the United States, with thirteen states and the District of Columbia actively implementing these initiatives. Furthermore, 15 states offer comprehensive frameworks for private school choice, incorporating vouchers, education savings accounts, and tax credit scholarships. The endorsement of these policies by the Trump administration has catalyzed further examination by additional states. Originating in the 1800s, school vouchers were first designed to support children in rural Vermont and Maine. However, post the pivotal Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, such vouchers were co-opted by segregationists to maintain racially divided educational systems. Today, while vouchers claim to provide quality education for low-income families, they often siphon resources from public schools, particularly impacting those that serve Black students. This trend has intensified racial and economic segregation, further deteriorating the quality and funding of public education, especially in lower-tax-base communities.