Voucher Proponents Claim Victory in Albany

By Jeff Archer

When a pro-voucher group offered private school scholarships to all the students entering grades 1-6 at Giffen Memorial Elementary School last summer, the Albany, N.Y., school became the focus of a nationally watched experiment in school choice.

A semester later, organizers of the scholarship program, called A Better Choice, say they've proved that vouchers, contrary to claims that they would hurt the public schools, can prompt districts to make needed improvements.

Since July, the struggling Giffen School has gained a new principal, two other top administrators, and a dozen new replacement teachers. The new administration has put in place a comprehensive improvement plan aimed at raising the levels of parent involvement, professional...