Thank you for an excellent column. I would, however, like to add a further perspective. In Canada, tax money has followed the child since the Quebec Act of 1774. In Alberta, for example, tax money follows students to Catholic, private, and other sectarian (e.g., Dutch Reformed) schools, as well to district-run and charter public schools.  Students in all of these schools must meet provincial standards, which are assessed in 3rd (optional), 6th and 9th grade (the Province's highest level assessment is PISA). There is an integrated provincial curriculum, along with student, parent, and teacher guides. Schools have the option not to use them. But every year, every school's value-added results (achievement growth above what student demographics would predict) is widely published, and most parents use to make their school choices. So what people here in the US call a "voucher" system can, in fact, work well. But multiple design factors are critical to its success.