Preserving Rural School Districts from the Threat of Vouchers and Charters

Abstract

School vouchers and charter schools are primed to grow at a time when public school systems are experiencing a precipitous decline in enrollment. Unfortunately, for many rural school districts, this challenging environment may endanger their very existence, to the detriment of the students and the communities they serve. To guard against this potential harm, this article calls for state legislatures to designate certain classes of rural districts as “education preserves.” This article also explains how states can create education preserves in a manner that can withstand Free Exercise Clause challenges