A Workable Voucher System for Aboriginal Students

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The National Panel on First Nation Elementary and Secondary Education has noted that reserve students generally are not doing very well in school. In attempting to improve the educational opportunities for these students, a number of policy-makers have suggested that vouchers would give parents more choice in the schools their children attend. However, this is difficult, if not impossible, on many aboriginal reserves where there are no alternative schools. In this paper, I outline a voucher system that could work for students living on reserves. Simply put, this voucher system would require that band councils pay for remedial tutors whenever parent-funded independent tests showed that their children are more than two grades below their actual age-grade level. As such, this voucher system would give parents, principals, and teachers incentives to ensure that students progress at an appropriate rate.