A look at what the research says about vouchers.
Additional Resources
Summary of the Center on Education Policy’s report on voucher developments and status (July 2011)
The report, which reviews voucher research over the past decade, finds no effect on student achievement as voucher supporters shift their rhetoric from academic performance to the parents’ right to choose a school for their children. It also provides an overview of major court cases and state ballot initiatives.
Summary of All Dept. of Education D.C. Voucher Evaluations
The latest 2009 study from the U.S. Department of Education on the D.C. voucher program found no difference in achievement in reading and math for students who came to the program from public schools that are labeled “in need of improvement” under NCLB, and those who entered the program with low test scores. Read a summary of the 2009, 2008 and 2007 reports here.
New Study Finds Public High School Students on Par with Private High School Students
NSBA summary of major study by the Center on Education Policy from October 2007
New Study on Milwaukee Vouchers Finds No Significant, Sustained Improvement in Public Schools Resulting from Competition
New Study On Milwaukee Vouchers Finds No Significant, Sustained Improvement in Public Schools Resulting from Competition
Another Study Finds No Academic Impact from Vouchers
Cleveland Study: Evidence Undercuts Voucher Claims
NSBA reviews a 2003 evaluation of the Cleveland voucher program
NSBA Reviews Study of Florida's McKay Voucher Program (2003)
NSBA looks at the findings of a 2003 study on Florida's McKay Voucher Program.
Official evaluation of D.C. voucher program (U.S. Department of Education, June 2007)
Study finds no significant academic differences in reading or math between voucher students and public school peers after one school year.
New study on Cleveland voucher program from CUNY (January 2006)
Researcher Clive Belfield examines the Cleveland voucher program in this 31-page study.
New study reveals public schools outperform private schools on national math exam (January 2006)
University of Illinois researchers find that after controlling for socio-economic differences, public schools outperform private schools. The researchers examined results from the 2003 NAEP Math for the study.
Study: No Academic Gains From Vouchers for Black Students (Education Week, April 9)
A new study of a privately funded voucher program in New York City counters the claims by another researcher about large academic gains for voucher students. The original study did not include scores for a substantial number of students in the program, according to the new review. This article also contains links to each study. (NOTE: Site registration required)