Faith-Based Education: A Growing Trend in Voucher States

The rise of faith-based education in voucher states has been a growing trend in recent years. According to a recent report, some churches are launching new Christian schools on their campuses, seeking to provide parents with more education options that align with their religious values. While state school voucher programs are not the primary reason for this trend, they are making the start-up process easier for churches. Pastors and Christian education experts say that the demand for church-affiliated schools has risen in response to pandemic-era scrutiny over what children are being taught in public schools about gender, sexuality, and other contentious issues. They argue that their aim is not to harm public schools, but to give parents more schooling options that align with their Christian values. In Christian classrooms, religious beliefs can inform lessons on morals and character building, teachers are free to incorporate the Bible across subjects, and the immersive environment may give students a better chance of staying believers as adults. Ohio, for example, has passed universal school choice, which allows taxpayers to fund private school tuition without income limits. However, opponents of this trend worry about church-state issues and harm to public schools. They argue that school vouchers take money from public schools, which serve most U. S. students, and benefit higher-income families who already use private schools.