Written by Rendy Koeppel
That is a question many more WELS school leaders are asking themselves. Government-funded programs that give parents vouchers or tax credits for school tuition are on our national landscape for the foreseeable future. Accepting state funding for tuition in WELS schools has been implemented for at least 20 years. It is a somewhat controversial concept in our Lutheran schools and congregations. Leaders have to decide whether they will participate. And why!
Common arguments for participation include increased enrollments and huge income sources that, in some cases, fund big building campaigns.
Common arguments against participation are government intervention in school ministries, potential for compromising Lutheran values and beliefs to meet government requirements, and sudden loss of funding in the event the subsidies stop.
What criteria should school leaders use in determining participation in such a program?
The place to start is the school mission statement. School leaders need to ask, “What is our school mission and purpose?” Then ask, “Does participation in a voucher program fit in our school’s mission?” The mission of every Lutheran school should boil down to Christ’s Great Commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Does it fulfill the Great Commission to accept state funding so that students who could not afford a tuition-based Lutheran school can receive a Christian education?
I recently completed a study on WELS schools and the use of voucher programs. Of 51 principals in funded schools who were surveyed, 96% of them believe the state funding program fits within the mission of their school. Nearly 80% of all the schools that participate in a program find the program to be a blessing to the school. Nearly 100% of the principals in those schools identified one or more specific blessings, such as financial stability, increased enrollments, funding for salaries and facilities, and a more diversified student body. Most importantly, 48 of 51 principals identified the blessing of more ministry opportunities through the funding program. More kids are being connected with the gospel.
Not only are voucher programs a blessing to school ministries, they are a blessing to the young souls who come to our Lutheran schools through them. My survey results identified numerous blessings students receive because they were able to enroll with a voucher. Most importantly, these students benefited from a Christian education and were nurtured in their Christian faith. They also were blessed with Christian role models, improved academics, and more opportunities to use their talents.
Some may assume that voucher programs must cause some problems for the school. On the contrary, only 4% of principals surveyed believed the program creates problems. Several principals did identify more challenges with higher enrollment and increased paperwork. Over 80% of those surveyed identified increased administrative responsibilities as a big challenge.
Even though the blessings seem to far outweigh the problems and challenges, big question marks remain. What happens if the government attaches new strings to these vouchers or tax credits? What happens if state legislation brings a sudden end to these programs? Then what? Schools are wise to have an exit plan in place in case such changes arise in government policy. The large majority of the participating WELS schools in my survey have some type of exit plan in place, such as temporary emergency funding or downsizing the staff. Funding or legislation could possibly change in the future, but only the Lord knows for sure.
In the meantime, what should Lutheran schools decide when faced with this funding opportunity? WELS leaders need not be fearful about participation in such programs. Following the careful and thoughtful process of many WELS schools and their leaders who have instituted these programs, educational leaders should seize the opportunity that is before them to reach out with the gospel to more people in their community.
The conditions today for this strategy may work very well for expanding ministry. Make the most of it! Those conditions may change next year or next decade, but that is no different from other challenging changes WELS churches and schools have experienced over the years.
The door has opened in recent decades for early childhood ministry, and many WELS churches have seized the opportunity. The door has opened for congregational ministry to immigrant groups in a number of U.S. cities. How long the door will be open for WELS schools to participate in state funding programs is unknown, so WELS school leaders should be bold and seize the opportunity while it is here.
To read my thesis, “The Impact of School Vouchers on WELS Lutheran Schools,” go to:
https://mlc-wels.edu/library/portfolio-item/thesis-capstone-projects/
Rendy Koeppel (DMLC ’81, MLC ’18) is a principal and teacher at St. Paul’s-First Lutheran School – North Hollywood, California. He recently completed his MS in Educational Administration at Martin Luther College.
We’d like to hear from you!
- What is your opinion on using vouchers at WELS schools?
- If your school does use them, do you have a success story to share?
- If your school administration decided not to use them, what led to your decision?
- Do you have any encouragement, warnings, or wisdom to share?
Great article and response. When I served as a principal, my metro Milwaukee school board studied the issue as to whether or not to join the state-wide program. I began the study for the 5 men sharing pro’s and con’s and then let them discuss and decide. They decided unanimously to not join due to the fear of becoming too reliant on those voucher dollars.
I was a bit surprised at their decision, but also somewhat proud of them. The stewardship foundation of their fear to join was refreshing coming from 5 laymen.
Vouchers are a wonderful tool to bring kids and their families into contact with a Gospel message that otherwise might not happen. A mission field coming to us! Great! However… the danger does indeed exist with regards to the dollars in this program in 3 areas.
1. Does a school become too reliant on choice dollars that if it stopped the school would go under? That’s a problem!
2. Do schools spend choice money on things they need or do they simply spend the money because it is there and I believe you must spend and account for each dollar given in choice money… so there is no banking some for a rainy day or for an “exit strategy.”
3. Does the ministry part of a school and the faithful stewardship of its families / members take a bit of a backseat once the choice dollars roll in? Does this in turn have an impact into the church’s stewardship program?
Again I believe vouchers are a tool for us to use to further the kingdom. However, we should also go into these programs with “eyes wide open” in order to make sure over-reliance on the choice dollars does not lead to catastrophic issues should the choice program cease to exist!
Ron, thank you for your insightful comments on vouchers and ESA’s. I especially appreciated your thoughts about how government has a vested interest in educating all children, and not necessarily operating a school system. Experience has shown that private enterprise is often more successful and cost effective than government-run operations.
Thank you, Rendy Koeppel, for sharing enlightened thinking regarding vouchers.
Vouchers and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are simply a long overdue recognition on the part of government that government, especially in a democracy, has an obligation toward the education of citizens, but that that obligation does not have to be fulfilled by a mandatory system of district schools. Voucher programs recognize that important decisions regarding the education of children are best left close to home, in the hands of parents to whom the children belong. In short, the government’s responsibility for educating children is fulfilled by funding education, not necessarily by operating a monopoly school system.
This new paradigm does leave the important concern, noted by the author, regarding a realistic exit strategy should the government return to a monopolistic strategy. Possibly a part of that exit strategy could be this, that a portion (possibly 10%) of all voucher funding received by the school be set aside in an exit fund, to ease any transition to life without vouchers,
It is clear that when a Lutheran school participates in a voucher or ESA program there is an increase in the number of children sitting daily at the feet of Jesus. Fear about what may happen tomorrow should not paralyze us from working smartly while it is day. Jesus said that the coming of night when we can’t work is certain; the coming of life without vouchers is only speculative. Besides, as vouchers and ESAs gain in popularity it will be increasingly difficult for government to reverse course.