Objective Measurement Not So Easy

Published July 20, 2007

In response to Ann Abramowitz’s call for objectively measuring vouchers before considering them a success [“Voucher program calls for objective evaluation,” July 17], one of the difficulties with objectively measuring educational outcomes, especially for disabled children, is that we don’t all agree on precisely how to measure it. Giving parents vouchers assumes that parents are better than bureaucracies at understanding their children’s special needs. And if we’re not willing to let parents do this, aren’t we undermining what living in a free society is all about?

Michael Van Winkle ([email protected]) is legislative specialist for education policy for The Heartland Institute.