Voucher Scam

Welfare for the Wealthy

by Doug Smith

September 2, 2026

The private school voucher scam is often called “school choice.”  But it’s not.  It’s the “school's choice,” because private schools can deny admission to any kid for any reason.

How can it be “choice” when the private school has all the power? How is it “choice” when many of our rural counties don't have a single private school?  How is it “choice” when private schools don't have to provide transportation or special education?  And how is it “choice” when the voucher doesn't even cover the full cost at most private schools?  If you gave an $8,000 voucher to a student from a low-income family, there's still no way they could afford a $12,000-a-year private school.

But here's the catch, the wealthy parent who is already sending their kid to a $12,000 a year private school is about to get an $8,000 discount… an $8,000 coupon at taxpayer and public schools’ expense!

“Vouchers are welfare for the wealthy!  Taking money out of our public schools and giving it to wealthy parents who don't need it!  Vouchers are a massive transfer of wealth from the bottom to the top.”  –James Talarico, Democratic State Representative for Texas running for U.S. Senate.

Consider who is getting hurt by stealing from the poor to give to the rich.  The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier recently ran an article (August 11^th) highlighting the damage experienced by rural school districts.  In Boone, they had to eliminate their 100-year orchestra program to save their core curriculum.  Other schools are eliminating teachers and combining classes, increasing class sizes.  And there’s a new wave of school mergers, taking schools away from small towns where the community revolved around them for decades. 

Ironically, it was the voters in these small towns who put the Republican governor and legislators into power in Des Moines.  That’s a fine way to thank them, by taking away the quality public education kids used to be able to receive in all parts of Iowa.  These are the voters who will have to decide in November:  Are we OK with losing our public education system, or should we put the Democrats in charge in Des Moines? 

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