School Choice Bibliography

Reviews of School Choice Research
Academic Outcomes of Participants
Program Participant Attainment
Parental Satisfaction
Public School Students’ Test Scores
Civic Values and Practices
Racial/Ethnic Integration
Fiscal Impact on Taxpayers and Public Schools
School Safety and Climate

updated: June 30, 2024

123s of School Choice 2024 Slideshare.pdf from EdChoice

Reviews of School Choice Research

*Studies included in these reviews are empirical by research design and observing the outcomes of publicly or privately funded school choice programs in K–12 education, and research reviews are systematically conducted and establish clear inclusion criteria.

M. Danish Shakeel, Patrick J. Wolf, Alison Heape Johnson, Mattie A. Harris and Sarah R. Morris (2024), The Public Purposes of Private Education: a Civic Outcomes Meta-Analysis, Educational Psychology Review, 36(40), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-024-09874-1

Danish Shakeel, Kaitlin P. Anderson, and Patrick J. Wolf (2021), The participant effects of private school vouchers around the globe: a meta-analytic and systematic review, School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 32(4), pp. 509-542, https://doi.org/10.1080/09243453.2021.1906283.

Jude Schwalbach and Corey A. DeAngelis (2020), School sector and school safety: a review of the evidence, Educational Review, 74(4), pp. 882-898, https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2020.1822789

Huriya Jabbar, Carlton J. Fong, Emily Germain, Dongmei Li, Joanna Sanchez, Wei-Ling Sun, and Michelle Devall (2019), The competitive effects of school choice on student achievement: A systematic review. Educational Policy, 36(2), pp. 1-35, https://doi.org/10.1177/0895904819874756

Corey A. DeAngelis (2017), Do Self-Interested Schooling Selections Improve Society? A Review of the Evidence. Journal of School Choice, 11(4), pp. 546–558, https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2017.1395615

Dennis Epple, Richard E. Romano, and Miguel Urquiola (2017), School Vouchers: A Survey of the Economics Literature, Journal of Economic Literature, 55(2), 441–92, http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/jel.20150679

Michael R. Ford and Fredrik O. Andersson (2017), Taking Stock and Moving Forward: Lessons from Two Plus Decades on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, Journal of School Choice, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2017.1350085

Leesa M. Foreman (2017), Educational Attainment Effects of Public and Private School Choice, Journal of School Choice, 11(4), pp. 642–654, https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2017.1395619

Fryer Jr, R. G. (2017), The Production of Human Capital in Developed Countries: Evidence from 196 Randomized Field Experiments. In E. Duflo & A. Banerjee (Eds.) Handbook of Field Experiments. Vol. 2, (pp. 95-322), Amsterdam: North-Holland

Evan Rhinesmith (2017), A Review of the Research on Parent Satisfaction in Private School Choice Programs, Journal of School Choice, 11(4), pp. 585–603, https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2017.1395639

Elise Swanson (2017), Can We Have It All? A Review of the Impacts of School Choice on Racial Integration, Journal of School Choice, 11(4), p. 507–526, https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2017.1395644

Julianne Bozzo (2016), School Vouchers: A Vehicle to Induce Greater Competition Among Public Schools, Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs, 2(1-4), http://dx.doi.org/10.15760/hgjpa.2017-2.4

Anna J. Egalite and Patrick J. Wolf (2016), A Review of the Empirical Research on Private School Choice, Peabody Journal of Education, 91(4), 441–454, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0161956X.2016.1207436

Greg Forster (2016), A Win-Win Solution: The Empirical Evidence on School Choice (4th ed.), Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, retrieved from EdChoice website: http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/A-Win-Win-Solution-The-Empirical-Evidence-on-School-Choice.pdf

Christopher Lubienski and T. Jameson Brewer (2016), An Analysis of Voucher Advocacy: Taking a Closer Look at the Uses and Limitations of “Gold Standard” Research, Peabody Journal of Education, 91(4), 455-472, https://doi.org/10.1080/0161956X.2016.1207438

Patrick J. Wolf and Anna J. Egalite (2016), Pursuing Innovation: How Can Educational Choice Transform K-12 Education in the U.S.?, retrieved from EdChoice website: http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/2016-4-Pursuing-Innovation-WEB-1.pdf

Mary R. Anderson, Tatyana Guzman and Evan J. Ringquist (2013), “Evaluating the Effectiveness of Educational Vouchers,” In Meta-Analysis for Public Management and Policy, edited by Evan J Ringquist and Mary Anderson, 202–237. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons

Anna J. Egalite (2013), Measuring Competitive Effects from School Voucher Programs: A Systematic Review, Journal of School Choice, 7(4), 443–464, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2013.837759

Alexandra Usher and Nancy Kober (2011), Keeping Informed about School Vouchers: A Review of Major Developments and Research, Center on Education Policy, retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED522161.pdf

Cecilia Elena Rouse and Lisa Barrow (2009), School Vouchers and Student Achievement: Recent Evidence and Remaining Questions, Annual Review of Economics, 1: 17-42, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.economics.050708.143354

Christopher Lubienski and Peter Weitzel (2008), The Effects of Vouchers and Private Schools in Improving Academic Achievement: A Critique of Advocacy Research, Brigham Young University Law Review, 2(10), 447-485, https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/lawreview/vol2008/iss2/10

Gary Miron, Stephanie Evergreen, and Jessica Urschel (2008), The impact of school choice reforms on student achievement. Education Policy Research Unit and the Education and the Public Interest Center, Arizona State University.

Patrick J. Wolf (2008), School Voucher Programs: What the Research Says About Parental School Choice. Brigham Young University Law Review, 2(9), 415–446, https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/lawreview/vol2008/iss2/9/

Academic Outcomes of Participants

*When considering studies on the effects of school choice programs on the academic outcomes of participating students, we only cite studies that use a random assignment methodology—considered the gold standard in the social sciences. You can learn more about the design and use of randomized control trials in this helpful blog post.

Heidi H. Erickson, Jonathan N. Mills and Patrick J. Wolf (2021): The Effects of the Louisiana Scholarship Program on Student Achievement and College Entrance, Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2021.1938311

Ann Webber, Ning Rui, Roberta Garrison-Mogren, Robert B. Olsen, and Babette Gutmann (2019), Evaluation of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program: Impacts Three Years After Students Applied (NCEE 2019-4006), retrieved from Institute of Education Sciences website: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20194006/pdf/20194006.pdf

Atila Abdulkadiroglu, Parag A. Pathak, and Christopher R. Walters (2018). Free to Choose: Can School Choice Reduce Student Achievement? American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 10(1), pp. 175–206. https://dx.doi.org/10.1257/app.20160634

Marianne Bitler, Thurston Domina, Emily Penner, and Hilary Hoynes (2015). Distributional Analysis in Educational Evaluation: A Case Study from the New York City Voucher Program. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 8(3), pp. 419–450. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2014.921259

Patrick J. Wolf, Brian Kisida, Babette Gutmann, Michael Puma, Nada Eissa, and Lou Rizo (2013). School Vouchers and Student Outcomes: Experimental Evidence from Washington, D.C. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 32(2), pp. 246–270. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pam.21691

Hui Jin, John Barnard, and Donald Rubin (2010). A Modified General Location Model for Noncompliance with Missing Data: Revisiting the New York City School Choice Scholarship Program using Principal Stratification. Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, 35(2), pp. 154–173. https://dx.doi.org/10.3102/1076998609346968

Joshua Cowen (2008). School Choice as a Latent Variable: Estimating the “Complier Average Causal Effect” of Vouchers in Charlotte. Policy Studies Journal, 36(2), pp. 301–315. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0072.2008.00268.x

Carlos Lamarche (2008). Private school vouchers and student achievement: A fixed effects quantile regression evaluation, Labour Economics, 15(4), pp. 575-590, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2008.04.007

Eric Bettinger and Robert Slonim (2006). Using Experimental Economics to Measure the Effects of a Natural Educational Experiment on Altruism. Journal of Public Economics, 90(8–9), pp. 1625–1648. https://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2005.10.006

Alan Krueger and Pei Zhu (2004). Another Look at the New York City School Voucher Experiment. American Behavioral Scientist, 47(5), pp. 658–698. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0002764203260152

John Barnard, Constantine Frangakis, Jennifer Hill, and Donald Rubin (2003). Principal Stratification Approach to Broken Randomized Experiments: A Case Study of School Choice Vouchers in New York City. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 98(462), pp. 310–326. https://dx.doi.org/10.1198/016214503000071

William G. Howell, Patrick J. Wolf, David E. Campbell, and Paul E. Peterson (2002). School Vouchers and Academic Performance: Results from Three Randomized Field Trials. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 21(2), pp. 191–217. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pam.10023

Jay P. Greene (2001). Vouchers in Charlotte. Education Matters, 1(2), pp. 55–60. Retrieved from Education Next website: http://educationnext.org/files/ednext20012_46b.pdf

Jay P. Greene, Paul Peterson, and Jiangtao Du (1999). Effectiveness of School Choice: The Milwaukee Experiment. Education and Urban Society, 31(2), pp. 190–213. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013124599031002005

Cecilia E. Rouse (1998). Private School Vouchers and Student Achievement: An Evaluation of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 113(2), pp. 553–602. https://dx.doi.org/10.1162/003355398555685

Program Participant Attainment

Matthew M. Chingos and Brian Kisida (2023), School Vouchers and College Enrollment: Experimental Evidence From Washington, DC, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 45(3), pp. 422-436, retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3102/01623737221131549

Megan J. Austin and Max Pardo (2021). Do college and career readiness and early college success in Indiana vary depending on whether students attend public, charter, or private voucher high schools? (REL 2021–071). U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest. Retrieved from: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs

Albert Cheng and Paul E. Peterson (2020), Experimentally Estimated Impacts of School Vouchers on Educational Attainments of Moderately and Severely Disadvantaged Students (PEPG 20-02). Retrieved from Harvard University website: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/Taubman/PEPG/research/PEPG20_02.pdf

** This paper is an update to the analysis from: Matthew M. Chingos and Paul E. Peterson (2015). Experimentally Estimated Impacts of School Vouchers on College Enrollment and Degree Attainment. Journal of Public Economics, 122, pp. 1–12. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2014.11.013

Matthew M. Chingos, Daniel Kuehn, Tomas Monarrez, Patrick J. Wolf, John F. Witte, and Brian Kisida (2019). The Effects of Means-Tested Private School Choice Programs on College Enrollment and Graduation, retrieved from Urban Institute website: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/100665/the_effects_of_means-tested_private_school_choice_programs_on_college_enrollment_and_graduation_2.pdf

Patrick J. Wolf, Brian Kisida, Babette Gutmann, Michael Puma, Nada Eissa, and Lou Rizo (2013). School Vouchers and Student Outcomes: Experimental Evidence from Washington, DC. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 32(2), pp. 246–270. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pam.21691

Parent Satisfaction

Andrew D. Catt and John M. Kristof (2022), Families’ Schooling Experiences in Kansas, EdChoice and Kansas Policy Institute, retrieved from EdChoice website: https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Famlies-Schooling-Experiences-in-Kansas.pdf

Shannon Varga et al. (2021), Choices and Challenges: Florida Parents’ Experiences with the State’s McKay and Gardiner Scholarship Programs for Students with Disabilities, Boston University, CERES Institute for Children & Youth, retrieved from Ceres Institute website: https://ceresinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ChoicesChallenges_REPORT.pdf

Andrew D. Catt and Albert Cheng (2019), Families’ Experiences on the New Frontier of Educational Choice: Findings from a Survey of K–12 Parents in Arizona, retrieved from EdChoice website: https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-4-Arizona-Parent-Survey-by-Andrew-Catt-and-Albert-Chang.pdf

Legislative Audit Bureau (2018), Special Needs Scholarship Program (Report 18-6), retrieved from https://legis.wisconsin.gov/lab/media/2753/18-6full.pdf

New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (2018), Scholarship Organization Report: Giving and Going Alliance, retrieved from https://www.revenue.nh.gov/assistance/documents/giving-and-going-alliance.pdf ; New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (2018), Scholarship Organization Report: Children’s Scholarship Fund, retrieved from https://www.revenue.nh.gov/quick-links/documents/childrens-scholarship-fund-ed-5.pdf

Andrew D. Catt and Evan Rhinesmith (2017), Why Indiana Parents Choose: A Cross-Sector Survey of Parents’ Views in a Robust School Choice Environment, retrieved from EdChoice website: https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Why-Indiana-Parents-Choose-1.pdf

Anna J. Egalite, Ashley Gray, and Trip Stallings (2017), Parent Perspectives: Applicants to North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program Share Their Experiences (OS Evaluation Report 2), retrieved from North Carolina State University website: https://ced.ncsu.edu/elphd/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/07/Parent-Perspectives.pdf

Andrew D. Catt and Evan Rhinesmith (2016), Why Parents Choose: A Survey of Private School and School Choice Parents in Indiana, retrieved from EdChoice website: https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Why-Parents-Choose-A-Survey-of-Private-School-and-School-Choice-Parents-in-Indiana-by-Andrew-D.-Catt-and-Evan-Rhinesmith.pdf

Brett Kittredge (2016), The Special Needs ESA: What Families Enrolled in the Program Are Saying After Year One, retrieved from Empower Mississippi website: http://empowerms.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/ESA-Report-final.pdf

David B. Black (2015), School Choice and Florida’s McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities: An Analysis of Parental Satisfaction [dissertation], Florida Atlantic University, retrieved from http://fau.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fau%3A31570/datastream/OBJ/view/School_choice_and_Florida___s_McKay_scholarship_program_for_students_with_disabilities__an_analysis_of_parental_satisfaction.pdf

Paul DiPerna (2015), Why Indiana Voucher Parents Choose Private Schools, retrieved from EdChoice website: http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Indiana-Survey.pdf

Brian Kisida and Patrick Wolf (2015), Customer Satisfaction and Educational Outcomes: Experimental Impacts of the Market-Based Delivery of Public Education. International Public Management Journal, 18(2), pp. 265–285, https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10967494.2014.996629

Jonathan Butcher and Jason Bedrick (2013), Schooling Satisfaction: Arizona Parents’ Opinions on Using Education Savings Accounts, retrieved from EdChoice website: https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/SCHOOLING-SATISFACTION-Arizona-Parents-Opinions-on-Using-Education-Savings-Accounts-NEW.pdf

James P. Kelly, III, and Benjamin Scafidi (2013), More Than Scores: An Analysis of Why and How Parents Choose Private Schools, retrieved from EdChoice website: http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/More-Than-Scores.pdf

John F. Witte, Patrick J. Wolf, Joshua M. Cowen, David J. Fleming, and Juanita Lucas-McLean (2008), MPCP Longitudinal Educational Growth Study: Baseline Report (SCDP Milwaukee Evaluation Report 5), retrieved from University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform website: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/scdp/42/

Virginia R. Weidner and Carolyn D. Herrington (2006), Are Parents Informed Consumers: Evidence from the Florida McKay Scholarship Program, Peabody Journal of Education, 81(1), pp. 27–56, https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327930pje8101_3

Jay P. Greene and Greg Forster (2003), Vouchers for Special Education Students: An Evaluation of Florida’s McKay Scholarship Program (Civic Report 38), retrieved from Manhattan Institute website: https://media4.manhattan-institute.org/pdf/cr_38.pdf

William G. Howell and Paul E. Peterson (2002), The Education Gap: Vouchers and Urban Schools, retrieved from JSTOR website: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7864/j.ctt128086

Jay P. Greene (2001), Vouchers in Charlotte. Education Next, 1(2), pp. 55–60, retrieved from Education Next website: https://www.educationnext.org/vouchersincharlotte/

Paul E. Peterson and David E. Campbell (2001), An Evaluation of the Children’s Scholarship Fund (PEPG 01-01), retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED453308

Paul E. Peterson, David E. Campbell, and Martin R. West (2001), An Evaluation of the BASIC Fund Scholarship Program in the San Francisco Bay Area, California (PEPG 01-01), retrieved from Paul E. Peterson website: http://paulepeterson.org/publications/evaluation-basic-fund-scholarship-program-san-francisco-bay-area-california

John F. Witte (2000), The Market Approach to Education: An Analysis of America’s First Voucher Program, retrieved from JSTOR website: https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt7rqnw

Kim K. Metcalf (1999), Evaluation of the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Grant Program: 1996-1999, retrieved from https://cdm16007.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p267401ccp2/id/1948

Paul E. Peterson, William G. Howell, and Jay P. Greene (1999), An Evaluation of the Cleveland Voucher Program After Two Years, retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED451260

Paul E. Peterson, David Myers, and William G. Howell (1999), An Evaluation of the Horizon Scholarship Program in the Edgewood Independent School district, San Antonio, Texas: The First Year, retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED441274

Jay P. Greene, William G. Howell, and Paul E. Peterson (1998), Lessons from the Cleveland Scholarship Program. In Paul E. Peterson and Bryan C. Hassel (Eds.), Learning from School Choice (pp. 357–392), retrieved from University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform website: https://jaypgreene.uark.edu/files/2018/04/Cleveland-Lessons-Book-20e6tpp.pdf

David J. Weinschrott and Sally B. Kilgore (1998), Evidence from the Indianapolis Voucher Program. In Paul E. Peterson and Bryan C. Hassel (Eds.), Learning from School Choice (pp. 307–334), https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/08904802016003004?icid=int.sj-abstract.citing-articles.39

Public School Students’ Test Scores

David N. Figlio, Cassandra M. D. Hart, and Krzysztof Karbownik (2023), Effects of Maturing Private School Choice Programs on Public School Students, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 15(4), pp. 255-294, https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.20210710

David N. Figlio, Cassandra M.D. Hart, and Krzysztof Karbownik (2022), The Ripple Effect: How private-school choice programs boost competition and benefit public-school students. Education Next, 22(1), pp. 48-54, retrieved from Education Next website: https://www.educationnext.org/ripple-effect-how-private-school-choice-programs-boost-competition-benefit-public-school-students/

Stéphane Lavertu and John J. Gregg (2022), The Ohio EdChoice Program’s Impact on School District Enrollments, Finances, and Academics, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, retrieved from Thomas B. Fordham Institute website: https://fordhaminstitute.org/sites/default/files/publication/pdfs/edchoice-impact-report-12-14-22-web-final.pdf

Anna J. Egalite and Jonathan N. Mills (2021), Competitive Impacts of Means-Tested Vouchers on Public School Performance: Evidence from Louisiana, Education Finance and Policy, 16(1), pp. 66-91, https://doi.org/10.1162/edfp_a_00286

Yusuf Canbolat (2021), The long-term effect of competition on public school achievement: Evidence from the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 29(97), https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.29.6311

Anna J. Egalite and Andrew D. Catt (2020), Competitive Effects of the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program on Traditional Public School Achievement and Graduation Rates (EdChoice working paper 2020-3), retrieved from EdChoice website: https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/EdChoice-Working-Paper-2020-3-Competitive-Effects-of-the-Indiana-Choice-Scholarship-Program.pdf

David Figlio and Krzysztof Karbownik (2016), Evaluation of Ohio’s EdChoice Scholarship Program: Selection, Competition, and Performance Effects, retrieved from Thomas B. Fordham Institute website: https://fordhaminstitute.org/sites/default/files/publication/pdfs/FORDHAM-Ed-Choice-Evaluation-Report_online-edition.pdf

Nathan L. Gray, John D. Merrifield, and Kerry A. Adzima (2016), A Private Universal Voucher Program’s Effects on Traditional Public Schools. Journal of Economics and Finance, 40(2), pp. 319–344, https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12197-014-9309-z

Daniel H. Bowen and Julie R. Trivitt (2014), Stigma Without Sanctions: The (Lack of) Impact of Private School Vouchers on Student Achievement, education policy analysis archives, 22(87), https://dx.doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v22n87.2014

David Figlio and Cassandra M.D. Hart (2014), Competitive Effects of Means-Tested School Vouchers. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 6(1), pp. 133–156, https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/app.6.1.133

Rajashri Chakrabarti (2013), Vouchers, Public School Response, and the Role of Incentives: Evidence from Florida. Economic Inquiry, 51(1), pp. 500–526,https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1465-7295.2012.00455.x

Cecilia E. Rouse, Jane Hannaway, Dan Goldhaber, and David Figlio (2013), Feeling the Florida Heat? How Low-Performing Schools Respond to Voucher and Accountability Pressure. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 5(2), pp. 251–281, https://dx.doi.org/10.1257/pol.5.2.251

Matthew Carr (2011), The Impact of Ohio’s EdChoice on Traditional Public School Performance. Cato Journal, 31(2), pp. 257–284, retrieved from Cato Institute website: http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/cato-journal/2011/5/cj31n2-5.pdf

Marcus A. Winters and Jay P. Greene (2011), Public School Response to Special Education Vouchers: The Impact of Florida’s McKay Scholarship Program on Disability Diagnosis and Student Achievement in Public Schools. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 33(2), pp. 138–158, https://dx.doi.org/10.3102/0162373711404220

Nicholas S. Mader (2010), School Choice, Competition and Academic Quality: Essays on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (Doctoral dissertation), retrieved from ProQuest (3424049), retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED520755

Jay P. Greene and Ryan H. Marsh (2009), The Effect of Milwaukee’s Parental Choice Program on Student Achievement in Milwaukee Public Schools (SCDP Comprehensive Longitudinal Evaluation of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program Report 11), retrieved from University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform website: https://scdp.uark.edu/the-effect-of-milwaukees-parental-choice-program-on-student-achievement-in-milwaukee-public-schools/

Rajashri Chakrabarti (2008), Can Increasing Private School Participation and Monetary Loss in a Voucher Program Affect Public School Performance? Evidence from Milwaukee, Journal of Public Economics, 92(5–6), pp. 1371–1393, https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2007.06.009

Greg Forster (2008), Lost Opportunity: An Empirical Analysis of How Vouchers Affected Florida Public Schools. School Choice Issues in the State, retrieved from EdChoice website: http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Lost-Opportunity-How-Vouchers-Affected-Florida-Public-Schools.pdf

Greg Forster (2008), Promising Start: An Empirical Analysis of How EdChoice Vouchers Affect Ohio Public Schools, School Choice Issues in the State, retrieved from EdChoice website: http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Promising-Start-How-EdChoice-Vouchers-Affect-Ohio-Public-Schools.pdf

Martin Carnoy, Frank Adamson, Amita Chudgar, Thomas F. Luschei, and John F. Witte (2007), Vouchers and Public School Performance: A Case Study of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, retrieved from Economic Policy Institute website: https://www.epi.org/publication/book_vouchers

Jay P. Greene and Marcus A. Winters (2007), An Evaluation of the Effect of DC’s Voucher Program on Public School Achievement and Racial Integration After One Year, Journal of Catholic Education, 11(1), pp. 83–101, http://dx.doi.org/10.15365/joce.1101072013

David N. Figlio and Cecilia E. Rouse (2006), Do Accountability and Voucher Threats Improve Low-Performing Schools? Journal of Public Economics, 90(1–2), pp. 239–255, https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2005.08.005

Martin R. West and Paul E. Peterson (2006), The Efficacy of Choice Threats within School Accountability Systems: Results from Legislatively Induced Experiments, Economic Journal, 116(510), pp. C46–C62, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2006.01075.x

Jay P. Greene and Marcus A. Winters (2004), Competition Passes the Test, Education Next, 4(3), pp. 66–71, retrieved from Education Next website: https://www.educationnext.org/competition-passes-the-test/

Jay P. Greene and Greg Forster (2002), Rising to the Challenge: The Effect of School Choice on Public Schools in Milwaukee and San Antonio (Civic Bulletin 27), retrieved from Manhattan Institute website: http://www.manhattan-institute.org/pdf/cb_27.pdf

Christopher Hammons (2002), The Effects of Town Tuitioning in Vermont and Maine. School Choice Issues in Depth, retrieved from EdChoice website: https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/The-Effects-of-Town-Tuitioning-in-Vermont-and-Maine.pdf

Caroline M. Hoxby (2002), How School Choice Affects the Achievement of Public School Students. In Paul T. Hill (Ed.), Choice with Equity (pp. 141–78), retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=IeUk3myQu-oC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA141

Jay P. Greene (2001), An Evaluation of the Florida A-Plus Accountability and School Choice Program, retrieved from Manhattan Institute website: http://www.manhattan-institute.org/pdf/cr_aplus.pdf

Civic Values and Practices

Corey A. DeAngelis and Patrick J. Wolf (2020). Private School Choice and Character: Evidence from Milwaukee, The Journal of Private Enterprise, 35(3), pp. 13-48, retrieved from: http://journal.apee.org/index.php/Parte3_2020_Journal_of_Private_Enterprise_Vol_35_No_3_Fall

Corey A. DeAngelis and Patrick J. Wolf (2018). Will Democracy Endure Private School Choice? The Effect of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program on Adult Voting Behavior. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3177517

Deven Carlson, Matthew M. Chingos, and David E. Campbell (2017). The Effect of Private School Vouchers on Political Participation. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 10(1), pp. 545–569. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2016.1256458

Jonathan N. Mills, Albert Cheng, Collin E. Hitt, Patrick J. Wolf, and Jay P. Greene (2016). Measures of Student Non-Cognitive Skills and Political Tolerance After Two Years of the Louisiana Scholarship Program (Louisiana Scholarship Program Evaluation Report 2). https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2738782

David J. Fleming (2014). Learning from Schools: School Choice, Political Learning, and Policy Feedback. Policy Studies Journal, 42(1), pp.55–78. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/psj.12042

David J. Fleming, William Mitchell, and Michal McNally (2014). Can Markets Make Citizens? School Vouchers, Political Tolerance, and Civic Engagement. Journal of School Choice, 8(2), pp. 213–236. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2014.905397

David E. Campbell (2008). The Civic Side of School Choice: An Empirical Analysis of Civic Education in Public and Private Schools. Brigham Young University Law Review, 2008(2), pp. 487–523. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/lawreview/vol2008/iss2/11

William G. Howell and Paul E. Peterson (2006). The Education Gap: Vouchers and Urban Schools, revised edition. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=lAzmJs8i-rUC

Paul E. Peterson and David E. Campbell (2001). An Evaluation of the Children’s Scholarship Fund (PEPG 01-03). Retrieved from Harvard University website: https://sites.hks.harvard.edu/pepg/PDF/Papers/CSF%20Report%202001.pdf

Patrick J. Wolf, Paul E. Peterson, and Martin R. West (2001). Results of a School Voucher Experiment: The Case of Washington, D.C. after Two Years (PEPG 01–05). Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED457272.pdf

Racial/Ethnic Integration

Anna J. Egalite, Jonathan N. Mills, and Patrick J. Wolf (2017), The Impact of Targeted School Vouchers on Racial Stratification in Louisiana Schools. Education and Urban Society, 49(3), pp. 271–296, https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0013124516643760

Jay P. Greene, Jonathan N. Mills, and Stuart Buck (2010), The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program’s Effect on School Integration (School Choice Demonstration Project Report 20), retrieved from University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform website: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/scdp/55/

Jay P. Greene and Marcus A. Winters (2007), An Evaluation of the Effect of DC’s Voucher Program on Public School Achievement and Racial Integration After One Year. Journal of Catholic Education, 11(1), pp. 83–101,http://dx.doi.org/10.15365/joce.1101072013

Greg Forster (2006), Segregation Levels in Cleveland Public Schools and the Cleveland Voucher Program. School Choice Issues in the State, retrieved from EdChoice website: http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Segregation-Levels-in-Cleveland-Public-Schools-and-the-Cleveland-Voucher-Program.pdf

Greg Forster (2006), Segregation Levels in Milwaukee Public Schools and the Milwaukee Voucher Program. School Choice Issues in the State, retrieved from EdChoice website: http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Segregation-Levels-in-Milwaukee-Public-Schools-and-the-Milwaukee-Voucher-Program.pdf

Howard L. Fuller and George A. Mitchell (2000), The Impact of School Choice on Integration in Milwaukee Private Schools. Current Education Issues 2000-02, retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED443939.pdf

Jay P. Greene (1999), Choice and Community: The Racial, Economic and Religious Context of Parental Choice in Cleveland, retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED441928.pdf

Fiscal Impact on Taxpayers and Public Schools

Greg S. Griffin and Lisa Kieffer (2023), Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit: Economic Analysis, Georgia Department of Audits & Accounts, Special Report, Report Number 22-10, June, retrieved from https://www.audits2.ga.gov/reports/summaries/22-10qeec/

Estelle Montgomery (2022), Iowa’s School Tuition Organization Tax Credits Program Evaluation Study, retrieved from https://tax.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/2022SchoolTuitionOrganizationTaxCreditStudy.pdf

Dagney Faulk and Michael J. Hicks (2021), School Choice and State Spending on Education in Indiana, Ball State University, Center for Business and Economic Research, retrieved from Center for Business and Economic Researach Ball State University website: http://projects.cberdata.org/reports/SchoolSpendingChoice-20210611web.pdf

Martin F. Lueken (2021), The Fiscal Effects of Private K-12 Education Choice: Analyzing the costs and savings of private school choice programs in America, EdChoice, retrieved from EdChoice website: https://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The-Fiscal-Effects-of-School-Choice-WEB-reduced.pdf

** This paper includes an update to the analysis from: Martin F. Lueken (2018), The Fiscal Effects of Tax-Credit Scholarship Programs in the United States, Journal of School Choice, 12(2), pp. 181–215, https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2018.1447725

Alexander Nikolov and A. Fletcher Mangum (2021), Scholarship Tax Credits in Virginia: Net Fiscal Impact of Virginia’s Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits Program, Mangum Economics, retrieved from Thomas Jefferson Institute of Public Policy website: http://www.thomasjeffersoninst.org/files/3/EISTC%20Study%20FINAL.pdf

Corey A. DeAngelis (2020), The Cost-effectiveness of Public and Private Schools of Choice in Wisconsin, Journal of School Choice, 15(2), pp. 225-247, https://doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2020.1726164

Julie R. Trivitt and Corey A. DeAngelis (2020), Dollars and Sense: Calculating the Fiscal Effects of the Louisiana Scholarship Program, Journal of School Choice, https://doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2020.1726704

Heidi Holmes Erickson and Benjamin Scafidi (2020), An Analysis of the Fiscal and Economic Impact of Georgia’s Qualified Education Expense (QEE) Tax Credit Scholarship Program, Education Economics Center, Kennesaw State University, retrieved from Education Economics Center of Kennesaw State University website: https://coles.kennesaw.edu/education-economics-center/docs/QEE-full-report.pdf

Deborah Sheasby (2020), How the Arizona School Tuition Organization Tax Credits Save the State Money, Arizona Tuition Organization, retrieved from Arizona Tuition Organization website: http://www.azto.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/How-the-AZ-STO-Tax-Credits-Save-the-State-Money-1-8-20.pdf

Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (2020), 2020 Statutory Review of Mississippi’s Education Scholarship Account Program (Report 649), retrieved from https://www.peer.ms.gov/Reports/reports/rpt649.pdf

Jacob Dearmon and Russell Evans (2018), Fiscal Impact Analysis of the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit, retrieved from Oklahoma City University website: https://www.okcu.edu/uploads/business/docs/Scholarship-Tuition-Tax-Credit-FY-2017-Fiscal-Impact-Report.pdf

Julie R. Trivitt and Corey A. DeAngelis (2018), State-Level Fiscal Impact of the Succeed Scholarship Program 2017-2018, Arkansas Education Reports, 15(1), pp. 1–21, retrieved from http://scholarworks.uark.edu/oepreport/1

Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau (2018), Special Needs Scholarship Program: Department of Public Instruction (Report 18-6), retrieved from https://legis.wisconsin.gov/lab/media/2753/18-6full.pdf

SummaSource (2017), Final Report: Analysis of the Financial Impact of the Alabama Accountability Act, SummaSource at Auburn Mongomery, retrieved from American Federation for Children website: https://www.federationforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/AUM-Fiscal-Impact-Report.pdf

Corey A. DeAngelis and Julie R. Trivitt (2016), Squeezing the Public School Districts: The Fiscal Effects of Eliminating the Louisiana Scholarship Program (EDRE Working Paper 2016-10), retrieved from University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform website: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1019&context=scdp

Jeff Spalding (2014), The School Voucher Audit: Do Publicly Funded Private School Choice Programs Save Money? Retrieved from EdChoice website: http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/The-School-Voucher-Audit-Do-Publicly-Funded-Private-School-Choice-Programs-Save-Money.pdf

Patrick J. Wolf and Michael McShane (2013), Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze? A Benefit/Cost Analysis of the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program. Education Finance and Policy, 8(1), pp. 74–99, https://dx.doi.org/10.1162/EDFP_a_00083

Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research (2012), Revenue Estimating Conference, retrieved from http://www.edr.state.fl.us/Content/conferences/revenueimpact/archives/2012/pdf/page540-546.pdf

Robert M. Costrell (2010), The Fiscal Impact of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program: 2010-2011 Update and Policy Options (SCDP Milwaukee Evaluation Report 22), retrieved from University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform website: https://scdp.uark.edu/files/2018/10/report-22-the-fiscal-impact-of-the-milwaukee-parental-choice-program-2010-2011-update-and-policy-options-24dyjxq.pdf

John Merrifield and Nathan L. Gray (2009), An Evaluation of the CEO Horizon, 1998–2008, Edgewood Tuition Voucher Program. Journal of School Choice, 3(4), pp. 414–415, https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15582150903430764

OPPAGA (2008), The Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program Saves State Dollars (Report 08-68), retrieved from http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/reports/pdf/0868rpt.pdf

Collins Center for Public Policy (2007), The Florida Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program: Updated Fiscal Analysis, retrieved from https://www.stepupforstudents.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2007-collins-center-fiscal-analysis.pdf

Susan L. Aud (2007), Education by the Numbers: The Fiscal Effect of School Choice Programs, 1990-2006. School Choice Issues in Depth, retrieved from EdChoice website: http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Education-by-the-Numbers-Fiscal-Effect-of-School-Choice-Programs.pdf

Susan L. Aud and Leon Michos (2006), Spreading Freedom and Saving Money: The Fiscal Impact of the D.C. Voucher Program, retrieved from EdChoice website: http://www.edchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Spreading-Freedom-and-Saving-Money-The-Fiscal-Impact-of-the-DC-Voucher-Program.pdf

School Safety and Climate

Ann Webber, Ning Rui, Roberta Garrison-Mogren, Robert B. Olsen, and Babette Gutmann (2019), Evaluation of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program: Impacts Three Years After Students Applied (NCEE 2019-4006), Institute for Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED594875.pdf

Corey A. DeAngelis and Martin F. Lueken (2019), School Sector and Climate: An Analysis of K–12 Safety Policies and School Climates in Indiana, Social Science Quarterly, 101(1), pp. 376-405, https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.12737

Patrick Wolf et al. (2010), Evaluation of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program: Final Report (NCEE 2010-4018), Institute for Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED510451.pdf

William G. Howell and Paul E. Peterson (2002), The Education Gap: Vouchers and Urban Schools, retrieved from JSTOR website: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7864/j.ctt128086

Paul E. Peterson, and David E. Campbell (2001), An Evaluation of the Children’s Scholarship Fund, PEPG report 01-03, Harvard University, retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED453308.pdf

Note: A study is a unique set of one or more data analyses, published together, of a single school choice program. “Unique” means using data and analytic specifications not identical to those in previously reported studies. “Published” means reported to the public in any type of publication, paper, article or report. By this definition, all data analyses on a single school choice program that are reported in a single publication are taken together as one “study,” but analyses studying multiple programs are taken as multiple studies even if they are published together.

• Three studies appear within the Howell & Peterson (2002) publication.
• Egalite (2014), Chakrabarti (2008), Greene and Forster (2002), and Hammons (2002) are publications that contain what we define as two unique studies.

Suggested Citation

EdChoice. Empirical Research Literature on the Effects of School Choice [web page]. Last modified April 22, 2024. Retrieved from http://www.edchoice.org/school-choice-bibliography