In Indiana, students in the program saw initial dips in math that persisted for four years. An earlier version of the same study found evidence of a bounce back among students who remained in private schools.
The Ohio study showed that even three years into the program, the negative impacts of using a private school voucher persisted. Students who used a voucher were also less likely to be chronically absent from school as a result. Older studies tended to show neutral or modest positive effects of vouchers on academic performance, and until recently, few if any studies had shown that vouchers actually led to lower achievement among students who received them. Some supporters of vouchers downplay the recent studies by pointing to research on the longer-run effects of the programs.
Here the research is somewhat more positive, but the studies are also limited and generally older. In each case, the researchers looked at students who entered voucher programs many years ago — a necessary trade-off when examining long-term outcomes. A federal analysis of the D. But a follow-up analysis found that voucher recipients were no more likely to enroll in college. A private school scholarship program in New York did not lead to improvements in college enrollment on average, but did seem to have a positive effect for black and Hispanic students specifically.
In Florida, a study and follow-up found that its tax credit program, the largest private school choice initiative in the country, led to increases in college enrollment and degree completion. It remains an open question whether the more recent initiatives can expect those results. There is a large body of evidence suggesting that public schools get slightly better in response to competition from school voucher programs, at least as measured by test scores. The impact is usually quite small and the exact effects depend on the program.
A recent study in Florida, which has the largest private school choice program in the country, found more consistent impacts: Tax credit—funded vouchers there led to small improvements in math and reading test scores, as well as suspension and attendance rates. Effects were largest for lower-income students.
This is one of the only studies that examines the effect of voucher competition on outcomes other than test scores. The older D. The latest D. Voucher students gave their private schools higher ratings and perceived them as safer. An older report by the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, found that families of students with disabilities using a voucher in Florida were dramatically more satisfied with the new private school than their previous public school.
A recent analysis of national data showed that private-school parents were also more satisfied than those sending their children to public schools — though it could not establish cause and effect.
Despite their expansion in recent years, tax credit programs — which use generous tax breaks to incentivize donations to organizations that then offer private school scholarships — have rarely been studied. School accountability, however, can be about as controversial an issue as vouchers, and Beth Blaufuss, president of a DC private high school that accepts voucher students, said if increased accountability measures had been part of the deal, she would have thought twice about participating in the voucher program.
The problem, at least for policymakers who might be looking to existing programs as they consider instituting vouchers, is that White and Blaufuss might both be right. We have a few states try something, we have a few cities try something, and we watch. If it seems to generate improvement, that would be the point at which we say, okay, maybe other states should look at it. In this Aug. June 28, Alexandra Tilsley. Policy Program Manager. Related Content.
Vouchers can be a controversial topic in some communities. Voucher programs have been around since the early s. Get answers to common questions about the new administration and special education.
Traditional voucher programs. States give parents a certain amount of public education funding to put toward private school tuition. Most states set requirements that schools must meet to accept a voucher. The number of approved schools varies. Education savings accounts ESA. States set aside money and put it in individual accounts for students. Parents can use the money toward the cost of private school tuition.
But they can also spend it on homeschooling costs such as online courses or tutoring and even on some types of therapy. The main difference between an ESA and a traditional voucher is that school vouchers can only be used at participating schools. Tax credit scholarships. States give businesses or individuals tax credits to donate money to a scholarship organization. Students who meet the requirements of the program can use the scholarship money toward tuition at a private school.
School vouchers are currently available in nearly 30 states, plus Washington, DC. Some states only offer them to students who apply for the program and fall into certain groups. These groups include:. And after admittance, they can expel your child for poor behavior or academic performance. Private schools can set their own policies for enrollment and discipline. There are a number of reasons why parents may prefer a private school over a public school.
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