We present results on devices fabricated in a waveguide system utilizing a voltage tunable quantum well cladding layer. A (GaAs/AlGaAs) beam steering device produced an angular shift of 2.4° under an applied voltage of 20 V. It is shown numerically that electro‐optic modulators fabricated in such a material configuration can have simultaneously improved contrast ratios and insertion losses if the ratio of light propagating in the cladding and in the core regions can be controlled. A proof of concept device is demonstrated in which an electric field is used to change the distribution of light propagating in the waveguide. ©1995 American Institute of Physics.