Analysis and Implications of Proposition 38: Will Vouchers Improve Student Access to Private Schools?

In November 2000, by means of a ballot issue titled Proposition 38, California voters decide whether to provide a $4,000 voucher for every public school student who enrolls in a private school. While voters must struggle with philosophical and political considerations in deciding the issue, this new Policy Brief from WestEd addresses a fundamental question: Will the Proposition 38 voucher program make any difference in students' access to private schools? Based on a survey of private schools, a review of relevant literature, and interviews with experts in California and across the nation, the report concludes that Proposition 38 will neither significantly increase students' access to private schools nor stimulate notable change in school choice.