The Importance Of Vouchers

Research clearly attests to the positive effect housing choice vouchers can have on academic achievement. In each of the case studies, implementation of the vouchers resulted in at least some improvement on children’s education and long-term career success, as compared to their previous situations. However, it is important not to overstate the significance of the vouchers’ success. Results of the MTO study demonstrate that a high number of Section 8 voucher holders only moved to slightly more affluent neighborhoods and well-performing schools. Further, additional variables originating in a child’s home, such as academic disadvantages caused by a lack of resources or parental involvement, will continue to thwart the ability of vouchers to cause

for the specific purpose of help boosting the learning outcomes of disadvantaged children. Horton’s Kids began in Washington, D.C. and now serves more than 300 children, ages 3 to 18 (Horton’s Kids, 2016). Most of these children come from one of the most at-risk neighborhoods in the District, with a high violent crime rate and a high-school drop out rate of over 70%. To compensate for their low-performing schools, this program provides these children with one-on-one tutoring on all major subjects. Further, to help children recover emotionally from trauma that comes from living in a dysfunctional home and neighborhood, the program also offers personal counseling services. To help encourage family involvement, these centers meet with families each week to update them on their children’s progress so that the parents can get a better idea of their child’s academic strengths and weaknesses. This process allows parents to better discern how they can help ensure their children’s success (Reim, 2013). Recognizing the deficiency of library resources in disadvantaged children’s homes, the Horton’s Kids program focuses on improving children’s literacy rates. After assessing a child’s literacy proficiency, they created personalized education plans designed to meet each child’s individual needs. They also include access to a library stocked with books available for children to bring home. As a result, their 2016 report of this past school year revealed that 94% of children in their program achieved improvement in their literacy skills (Annual Report,