ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses five general issues regarding the impact of vouchers on the education of poor children in the United States. First, it considers ways in which the concepts of privatization and vouchers have been discussed as avenues for improving the education of poor children. Second, the chapter identifies the major stakeholders. Third, it describes the interests and concerns of the stakeholders. Fourth, the chapter specifies the types of studies that might address stakeholders' concerns regarding privatization, vouchers, and the poor. Fifth, it briefly reviews the studies that have been conducted to date and assess what authors have learned from them. Despite efforts to involve poor parents—;;indeed, all parents—;;in the education of children through various parental participation strategies, it is often difficult to secure their genuine participation to facilitate student learning. Efforts to encourage poor parents to participate in education face barriers beyond those confronting educators working with nonpoor parents.
