School Choice Finances
Cal Berkeley professor Robert Reich claims that “school choice” is “really just defunding public schools and funneling the money to for-profit schools that disproportionately benefit rich kids.”
IN FACT, school choice generally raises per-pupil spending in public schools because:
- public schools spend an average of 58% more per student than private schools.
- when school choice allows children to attend private schools, public schools no longer have the costs of educating these students.
- the cost savings of private schools leaves more funding for the students who remain in public schools or can also be used to reduce taxes.
Furthermore, the vast bulk of private K–12 private schools are non-profit, contrary to Reich’s rhetoric.
