ATTENDING A PRIVATE VOUCHER SCHOOL DID NOT IMPROVE STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. 

  • There was no positive impact “on student achievement in general after 1 year.” 

  • “[T]here were no statistically significant impacts of the program on reading or math achievement in the first year.” 

  • “No statistically significant achievement impacts were observed for the high-priority subgroup of students who had attended a SINI [“School in Need of Improvement”] public school under NCLB before applying to the program.”

Source:  2007 U.S. Dep’t of Ed. Report at xviii, xx, 44, 46.

ATTENDING A PRIVATE VOUCHER SCHOOL DID NOT HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON STUDENT SAFETY OR SATISFACTION.

  • Participating in the voucher program* had a substantial positive impact on parents’ views of school safety but not on students’ actual school experiences with dangerous activities.

  • Students participating in the voucher program “are no more or less satisfied with their schools” than those not in the program.

Source:  2007 U.S. Dep’t of Ed. Report at xx, 1-4.

THE VOUCHER PROGRAM DECREASED STUDENT ACCESS TO KEY SERVICES.

 % of students in the program whose schools have the service as compared to students not in the program:

  • ESL Programs - 38% fewer
  • Learning Support/Special Needs - 38% fewer
  • Counselors - 7% fewer
  • Nurse’s Office - 54% fewer
  • Cafeteria - 14% fewer

Source:  2007 U.S. Dep’t of Ed. Report at 21.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF STUDENTS IN THE VOUCHER PROGRAM ATTENDED A FAITH-BASED SCHOOL.

  • In year one, nearly two-thirds of students in the program attended a Roman Catholic school, 17% attended a non-Catholic, faith-based school, and only 18% were enrolled in nonsectarian private schools.

Source:  2007 U.S. Dep’t of Ed. Report at 19.

 

* In accordance with the report, participation “in the program” includes all students offered a voucher, regardless of whether they used the voucher.