The subject of educational vouchers has emerged as a vibrant topic of educational finance and policy. An educational voucher represents a government commitment to families to pay a specified amount of tuition at any approved school, whether public or private, that the family chooses for its offspring. Schools must attract sufficient numbers of students to prosper. The voucher system of finance is viewed by its supporters as improving efficiency of resource use and equity in education through market competition and better matching of students to school strengths as well as providing access to schools outside of residential neighborhoods. Detractors assert that the system leads to greater segregation of students by race and social class and lacks evidence of promised educational benefits.

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