(NAPSA)—While the public de- bate continues over the value of school voucher programs, a growing body of academic research is starting to defend their worth. That’s the focus of an article by Jay Greene, Ph.D in the Summer 2001 issue of The Public Interest. Greeneis a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. He was a professor at the University of Texas and the University of Houston. Thearticle, “The Surprising Consensus on School Choice,” summarizes what Greene describes as the mounting evidence of the positive effects of school choice programs. Greene cites test score results from New York City, Washington, D.C., Dayton, Ohio, and Charlotte, North Carolina that suggest that students who are provided with opportunities to choose a private school benefit academically. He also contends that research indicates voucher programs may have a positive effect on public schools and the students who do not participate in voucher programsas well. In his closing comments, Greene acknowledged that research alone will not create voucher programs. Nationally, community and advocacy groups continue to promote the value of such programsto educational professionals and policy makers. For example, an organization founded in 2000 actively supports parental choice and is working to empower families and increase educational options for low-income families. The Black Alliance for w. Recent research suggests students in school voucher programs benefit academically. Educational Options—BAEO—has created a public information campaign to raise awareness about the need for and value of extending quality educational options to African-American and low-income families. It provides information to the public on topics such as charter schools; tax supported voucher programs; privately financed scholarships to private schools; tuition tax credits; home schooling; public-private partnerships; supplementary education programs; and innovations in existing public schools. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.BAEO.orgor call 1- 866-865-BAEO.
