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[quote=Anonymous]OP - please do some research on this issue.  Republicans don't support school choice because they are evil, or profit hungry.  Philosophically, they believe that competition makes people work harder and institutions stronger.  They also believe that more money doesn't necessarily result in improved performance.  Finally, they tend to favor individual freedom, so feel that parents (given their strong self interest) could make the most appropriate educational choices for their children.

So, here is the vision:  give each child a voucher for the value of per pupil funding (debates about how much this should be).  Parents can use the voucher to choose the educational setting they prefer.  If there is a flood of people out of a given (failed) public school, that school must either improve, offer innovative programs or close.  Initially, there would probably be a shortage of spots in private schools, as many would have the option of choosing them for the first time, but supply would catch up to demand.

Many Democrats recognize that there would be some losers in this scenario.  Most important would be children whose parents pay no attention to the quality of education.  They would be left in the presumably poor public schools, now made "weaker".  However, the schools remaining could consolidate and focus directly on the needs of these kids.  It depends on the per pupil allotment which could be different based on the needs of the child.  Empty public schools would probably be leased to private or charter schools.  The other losers would be poor public school teachers, whose positions might be eliminated and who would not be competitive for new private and charter school jobs.

The argument that charter and private schools are not accountable is a joke.  These schools would be directly accountable to parents.  There are many public schools that are failing and which are totally unaccountable to their customers - kids and parents.  The voters have some very indirect method of expressing their displeasure by voting out the school board, but that is it.

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