Schooling in the Ownership Society: Wealthy powerful forces driving expansion of vouchers and "choice"

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Wealthy powerful forces driving expansion of vouchers and "choice"

Wealthy powerful forces driving expansion of vouchers and "choice"

by Mike Klonsky

Betsy Devos

Two weeks ago, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) marked “a new era for education in Indiana” when he signed into law one of the most expansive school voucher laws in the country, opening up a huge fund of tax dollars for private schools. Daniels' school reform plan even received a blessing from none other than Arne Duncan.

Daniels told the WSJ he talks more with Education Secretary Arne Duncan than he did with any Bush Administration cabinet secretary during his 2001-2003 tenure at the White House. Vouchers have been unpopular with the American public. Between 1966 and 2000, vouchers were put up for a vote in states 25 times, andvoters rejected the program 24 of those times. But powerful ownership society forces are driving successful voucher initiatives in several states despite their unpopularity with the voters.

"What I want in education is almost completely aligned with what President