CREATING CHOICE IN CALIFORNIA HIGHER EDUCATION: A Proposed Voucher Program

The state of California currently has a monopoly on the provision of higher education that is directly subsidized by state taxpayers. This proposal suggests that California abandon the single provider approach and offers a choice or voucher program as a substitute. The purpose of proposing such a dramatic change is not necessarily intended to bring about a shift in policy. The paper, instead, uses the voucher proposal as a vehicle to ask: what is the state’s interest in supporting higher education with taxpayer dollars and how can it most efficiently pursue that interest?