Vouchers are taking over federal K-12 education policy, whether the Trump administration is touting it at every opportunity, or the recent budget reconciliation bill moving through Congress would create a tax-credit scholarship program. These federal policymakers boast that it’s a means to offer better educational opportunities; but as an educator in Washington, DC for two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how school voucher programs can quietly unravel the very fabric of a community. While the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) sounds appealing, the reality is far more complex and, in many cases, detrimental to both individual students and the broader community.

A Strained Public School System: Mariah’s Voucher Story

Mariah’s family has lived in our town for generations, and like her parents before her, Mariah’s two children attend the local public school. It’s a school that’s long been a cornerstone of the community, where families gather for sports events, PTA meetings, and school plays. Mariah was deeply invested in her kids’ education, volunteering in classrooms and helping organize fundraisers.

But things began to change when the state introduced a voucher program. Slowly, some families in the neighborhood started enrolling their children in private schools, taking advantage of the vouchers. At first, it seemed like a positive change — after all, who wouldn’t want the best for their kids? But as more students left, the public school faced severe budget cuts. Teachers were laid off, extracurricular programs were eliminated, and class sizes ballooned.

Mariah noticed that her children were no longer receiving the same quality of education. With fewer resources, the school struggled to maintain its previous standards, and students like Mariah’s kids, who couldn’t afford to supplement their education elsewhere, were left behind. The school that once thrived on the energy of an engaged community began to feel neglected, and Mariah found herself frustrated and powerless.

The Challenge of Accountability: Brian’s Voucher Story

Brian, a friend of mine, was excited when his family received a voucher. He and his wife had been considering a private school for their son, whom they felt wasn’t being challenged enough in his public school. The voucher seemed like a golden ticket to a better education.

But things didn’t turn out as they’d hoped. The private school they chose didn’t have the same level of accountability as public schools. There was no standardized testing, and the curriculum didn’t seem as rigorous as what his son had been used to. Worse, when Brian’s son started struggling in math, the school didn’t have the resources to offer the extra help he needed. When he tried to address these issues, he found the school’s administration unresponsive.

After a year, Brian and his wife decided to pull their son out and return him to public school. But by then, the public school had already lost much of its funding, and the boy found himself in larger classes with fewer resources than before. The voucher program that was supposed to enhance his education had instead set him back, and Brian felt guilty for having inadvertently contributed to the weakening of the public school system.

The Fragmentation of Neighborhood Schools: The Johnson Family’s Voucher Story

My neighbors, the Johnson family, has always been very active in our community. Their daughter was best friends with my daughter, and the two of them did everything together — scouts, soccer, and school. When the voucher program came into effect, the Johnsons decided to enroll their daughter in a private school across town. They felt it offered a more specialized education that aligned with their values.

It wasn’t long before my daughter and her friend started drifting apart. With each of them attending a different school, they saw each other less and less. The Johnsons became less involved in the public school community activities, understandably focusing their time and energy on their child’s new school.

What I didn’t anticipate was the ripple effect this would have on our entire neighborhood. Without the common ground of shared school experiences, the close-knit bond we’d all enjoyed began to weaken. PTA meetings were sparsely attended, community events felt more fragmented, and that sense of unity — of working together for the betterment of our children — started to fade. We were no longer a single community rallying around our public school; we were splintered into different factions, each following our own path.

The Deepening Divide: A Town’s Struggle with Vouchers and Private Schools

It’s not just individual families who are affected, but entire communities. Our town has always been diverse, with families from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. This diversity was reflected in our public school, where students from all walks of life learned and grew together. But as the voucher program took hold, a troubling pattern emerged. Wealthier families were able to use the vouchers to offset the cost of private school tuition, while lower-income families — those who couldn’t afford the difference — were left behind in increasingly underfunded public schools.

The divide became more apparent over time. Private schools, which were now filled with students from more affluent backgrounds, didn’t have to cater to the diverse needs of all children, especially students with disabilities who need special education services. Meanwhile, public schools, already strained by budget cuts, struggled to provide the necessary support for their students. The ideal of equal opportunity in education was slipping away, replaced by a system that segregated students based on their families’ ability to pay. Our town, once proud of its inclusive and supportive public school, now faced a growing sense of division. The school voucher program, instead of uniting us in the pursuit of better education, had deepened inequalities and fragmented our community.

Conclusion: Rebuilding Public Schools Together

These stories, like those of Mariah, Brian, and the Johnsons, are not unique to our town. They reflect the broader impact of school voucher programs that are being implemented in states across the country. While the intention behind vouchers may be to provide more choices, the reality is that they drain public funds from public schools, which weakens the public school system, undermine accountability, fragment communities, and exacerbate inequalities.

As a community, we must recognize the true cost of voucher programs and refocus our efforts on strengthening public education for all. By investing in our public schools, we can ensure that every child has access to the resources they need to succeed, regardless of their background or financial situation. More importantly, we can rebuild the sense of unity and shared purpose that makes our communities strong. The future of our children and our society depends on it.

Learn more on how vouchers drain funds from public schools

Nadia Taylor has been an elementary school principal, school director, and educator in the District of Columbia for 20 years.

Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski