Case #1509.0

The Cleveland School Voucher Program: A Question of Choice (A)

Publication Date: June 01, 1999
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Abstract:
This case describes both the essential philosophical debate surrounding the idea of allowing public funds to pay tuition at private and religious schools, and the complications involved in actually implementing such a "voucher" program. The "A" case (#1509.0) focuses on African-American woman Bert Holt who serves as director of the newly-established Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program. Holt must decide how to distribute voucher funds voted by the state of Ohio to some 1,500 Cleveland public school students; she must shape the terms on which private and parochial schools will participate in the program and must cope with resistance to the voucher concept, even within the African-American community in whose children's interest it was ostensibly enacted. Her efforts must take place, moreover, in the shadow of a lawsuit that could moot the entire initiative. The "B" case (#1510.0) describes the arguments and outcome of the legal challenge and tracks the program's course over its first three years.

Learning Objective:
These policy design cases are designed for discussion of vouchers as policy concept both in general and as applied to education and to temper that discussion with consideration of the realities of implementation.

Other Details

Case Author:
Susan Rosegrant
Faculty Lead:
John D. Donahue
Pages (incl. exhibits):
12
Setting:
United States
Language:
English