Do you favor school-choice programs?

In a recent State of the State address, Ohio governor Ted Strickland promised to eliminate EdChoice, a voucher system that offers state funds for students in underperforming public schools to attend private schools. He also proposed limiting the expansion of Ohio's charter schools. Some argue, like Strickland, that transferring students to private or charter schools further impoverishes an already-struggling public school system and is inherently undemocratic. Proponents of school-choice programs, however, maintain that healthy competition raises the educational standards of all schools and that choice will help narrow the achievement gap. What do you think?