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August 2003
Vouchers spur public schools to improve, study says
Florida schools facing voucher competition made extraordinary gains in the 2002-2003 school year compared to other Florida public schools, according to Manhattan Institute researchers Jay P. Greene and Marcus Winters.
In their study, "When Schools Compete: The Effects of Vouchers on Florida Public School Achievement," Green and Winters find that Florida's low-performing schools are improving in direct proportion to the challenge they face from voucher competition.
The results are based on an examination of Florida's A+ Opportunity Scholarship Program. The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), is used to grade schools on a scale from A to F. If a school receives two Fs in any four-year period, its students become eligible to receive vouchers to attend other public or private schools.
By comparing test score improvements at schools facing voucher competition to those made by schools with similarly low test scores but not facing the threat of vouchers, the study is able to identify the impact of vouchers on public school achievement.
Among other things, the study found:
• Schools already facing competition from vouchers showed the greatest improvements of all five categories of low-performing schools, improving by 9.3 scale score points on the FCAT math test, 10.1 points on the FCAT reading test, and 5.1 percentile points on the Stanford-9 math test relative to Florida public schools that were not in any low-performing category.
• Schools threatened with the prospect of vouchers (those that had received only one F in the preceding 3 years) showed the second greatest improvements, making relative gains of 6.7 scale points on the FCAT math test, 8.2 points on the FCAT reading test, and 3.0 percentile points on the Stanford-9 math test.
For more information, read the study itself by downloading the PDF below. Also, see the articles below about the study.
PDF of "When Schools Compete"
"Vouchers will help public schools," Christian Science Monitor, 8/28/02
"Report: Vouchers have a positive effect on schools," The Tallahassee Democrat, 8/20/03
"Study: Vouchers a spur to schools," St. Petersburg Times, 8/20/03
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