Undermining Public Education: The Consequences of Privatization and Voucher Programs

A recent analysis of public schools in the United States revealed that one-third of eighth-graders can read at grade level, while 40 percent of fourth-graders fall below the basic level of literacy, highlighting the need for improvement. However, instead of working to enhance the public education system, Republicans in Washington, D.C. are actively undermining it through voucher programs and privatization. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act allows individuals to donate up to $1,700 to nonprofit organizations, which can then provide scholarships to students attending private or religious schools, potentially harming the public school system.

Key Takeaways:

• The National Assessment of Education Progress showed that one-third of eighth-graders can read at grade level, while 40 percent of fourth-graders fall below the basic level of literacy.
• The One Big Beautiful Bill Act allows individuals to donate up to $1,700 to nonprofit organizations, which can then provide scholarships to students attending private or religious schools.
• Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson expressed skepticism about voucher programs, stating that they could harm the public school system.
• Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal warned that privatization could lead to segregation by religion, income, race, and disability in public schools.
• At least 15 states controlled by Republicans have some sort of voucher program, which divert money from public schools toward private schools when parents opt their children out of the public-school system.
• Critics argue that public education is controlled by teachers' unions, is too "woke," and is indoctrinating students rather than educating them.
• The No Child Left Behind Act, passed in 2001, was a bipartisan effort to improve public education, but it was eventually scuttled by Congress in 2015.
• The current approach to public education is causing concern, with columnist Will Marshall stating that "school reform barely registered in last year's presidential election" and instead, Republicans were focused on ridding schools of "wokeness."

Statistics:

• One-third of eighth-graders can read at grade level (National Assessment of Education Progress).
• 40 percent of fourth-graders fall below the basic level of literacy (National Assessment of Education Progress).
• Up to $1,700 can be donated to nonprofit organizations through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
• At least 15 states controlled by Republicans have voucher programs.

Sources:

• The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.) - "Public schools need a hand, not a backhand", August 26, 2025.
• The Hill - "Despite mounting evidence that our K-12 students are sliding backward, school reform barely registered in last year's presidential election." (Column by Will Marshall, no date specified).