The topic of charter schools and vouchers is an ongoing debate that is currently being
argued in places from the local school board meetings to state supreme courts. Both charter
schools and school voucher programs are collectively referred to as “school choice” initiatives,
in that they allow parents to choose educational options for their children that are outside of the
traditional public school system. A school voucher program provides parents with certificates
that are used to pay for education at a school of their choice, rather than the public school to
which they are assigned. Charter schools on the other hand are publicly funded schools that have
been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools. In
exchange, charter schools have specialized accountability for producing certain results, which
are set forth in each school’s charter. As Americans we enjoy choices and often associate choice
as something positive. Being able to choose a school may sound like a reasonable initiative on
the surface, but after a closer look it has serious problems. School choice turns out to not only be
a bad idea; it’s also a violation of our constitution.