The School Voucher program was designed to give families the ability to choose where their children might go to school. The program offered a fixed dollar amount toward a child's tuition each year. Their choices ranged from private to parochial schools, schools that many of these children might not otherwise experience. Charter schools were also an option because they are run much like private schools. The idea behind voucher programs is to create a sense of competition. The hope is that higher academic results and a better level of education will be achieved. Supporters of the program believe that children from poor public school districts should have the same opportunities for a quality education as children from wealthier private schools. The goal was for vouchers to create a level playing field in education. “The Center for Education Reform and the Friedman Foundation [ardent supporters] of school vouchers [believe that] vouchers are an important means of promoting school choice” (Council for Economic Education, 2011). Rose and Milton Friedman state that “school choice means giving all parents the opportunity to be an integral part of their children's education. Power and choice make people feel more involved, more effective and more satisfied as citizens” (Council Economic Education, 2011). Critics of the program believe that vouchers are diverting much-needed funding from the public education system (Econedlink, 2011). Is this an equitable distribution of resources, and does choice hurt or help public education? As public school administrators continue to struggle for funds to keep their struggling schools operational, are vouchers the way to go? Perhaps the key is improving public education...... middle of paper ......Left Behind (2011). Retrieved June 2, 2011, from http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/overview/intro/4pillars/htmlPeterson, P. (2003). A choice between public and private school: what will be the future of school vouchers. Spectrum: The Journal of State Government. Reed, J. (2011, March 28). School choice should be part of education reform, the foundation of educational choice. Retrieved May 21, 2011, from http://www.edchoice.orgRiley, J. (2011, May 03). Wall Street Journal, The proof is in: School Vouchers Work, The Foundation for Educational Choice. Retrieved May 21, 2011, from http:wwwedchoice.org "School Vouchers: The Wrong Choice for Public Education." Adl.org. 14 May 2011Anti – Defamation League“The controversial issue of school vouchers”. Econedlink.org. May 14, 2011 Economic Education Council