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October 3, 2007
Another voucher argument comes up shortA new study from the Economic Policy Institute counters the frequent claim of voucher supporters that vouchers help public schools by introducing competition. The report "Vouchers and Public School Performance," finds no significant, sustained improvements by Milwaukee public schools as a result of the city's sizable private school voucher program.
While the researchers note a brief boost in public school student achievement, they found that it eroded as the voucher program's enrollment grew and public school enrollment declined, with the lowest-income public schools losing ground to other public schools.
Check out NSBA's comments on the study, which could have implications for the upcoming Utah voucher referendum. Salt Lake Tribune is on the story already.
The five-person reseach team includes John Witte, who conducted the official evaluations of the Milwaukee voucher program back in the 1990s before the state legislature pulled the plug on the research (while also expanding the program) and who authored "The Market Approach to Education: An Analysis of America's First Voucher Program."
Today's report is the latest debunking of the many myths put forward to justify vouchers. NSBA's "Keep Public Education Public" book documented 10 such myths, including the competition claim.
Posted October 3, 2007 12:38 PM | Privatization & Choice
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