But even as vouchers rise to the forefront of the debate on education, a big question remains: Can they give kids, especially those who live in high-poverty areas, a shot at a better education?

"The pattern that usually happens," Finch says, "is a family hears that there's a special school for Johnny… so they end up ...

The Trump administration is pushing for a national school voucher plan, which is part of the budget bill now before the Senate. But research on the success of voucher programs is mixed.