Released: 1/1/2002
Author(s): Christopher Hammons
This study finds that the school voucher programs known as “town tuitioning” in Maine and Vermont improve public schools through competitive incentives. Public schools close to tuitioning towns had higher test scores than other public schools – if a town decided to begin tuitioning its students, a public school one mile away could expect to see its test scores increase by over 3 percentile points – on average, that would be a 12 percent gain over existing scores.
Programs
Launched 1873
Many small towns in Maine do not operate local high schools, and some do not operate local elementary schools. Students in these towns are eligible for vouchers to attend public schools in other towns or non-religious private schools, even outside the state. The sending towns pay tuition directly to the receiving schools. Although most towns allow parents to choose which schools will receive their students, some towns send all their students to one school. In 2009, 176 towns let parents decide where to send their children, while 33 towns contracted with one school.
Began Operation 1869
Many small towns in Vermont do not operate local high schools, and some do not operate local elementary schools. Students in these towns are eligible for vouchers to attend public schools in other towns or non-religious private schools, even outside the state. The “sending” towns pay tuition directly to the “receiving” schools. Although most towns allow parents to choose which schools will receive their students, some towns send all their students to one school.
