Should vouchers enable parents to select schools for their children?

In a proposed voucher system, parents could use certificates of credit to select schools to which to send their children. Parents might be able to send their children to public or private schools, or to not-for-profit or profit-making schools.

Pro: The competition brought about by a voucher system would improve the quality of the schools. Low-quality schools would be driven out of existence.

Con: The scramble among schools for vouchers would lead some schools to reduce their standards in some ways.

Pro: A voucher system would give children, especially those from low-income families, more access to high-quality schools.

Con: The demand for admissions into certain schools might exceed the ability of those schools to provide them. Those who have vouchers but cannot use them to gain access to the schools of choice gain nothing from the plan.