Participant and Competitive Effects of the Louisiana Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program: First-Year Impacts

• In Event: Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Impacts of School Choice

Abstract

This study estimates the achievement effects of the Louisiana Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program on participating students as well as students in public schools facing competitive pressures. We use the results from a centralized oversubscription lottery to estimate the impact of receiving a voucher by comparing students who were randomly assigned to receive a voucher with those who did not receive a voucher. We also examine the competitive effects of the program by utilizing a discontinuous increase in the threat of a voucher for schools receiving a C grade instead of a B. This study is particularly notable as it is the first study of a statewide publicly funded voucher program and the largest experimental voucher study to date.

Authors

• Anna J. Egalite, Harvard University

• Patrick J. Wolf, University of Arkansas

• Jonathan N Mills, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

• Jay Phillip Greene, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville