The Competitive Effect of Indiana Choice Scholarship Program on Public School Achievement

• In Event: Competing Influences: Governance, Unions, and Funding Mechanisms

Abstract

The current paper examines the competitive effect of the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, the nation`s largest single voucher program, on public school achievement. Using a multilevel regression design, I analyze the effect of the districts` voucher participation level on public schools’ proficiency growth in math and ELA between the school years of 2010-2011 and 2017-2018. I utilize school level data of 1,268 schools from 283 districts in Indiana. Findings indicate that number of voucher students in the districts does not significantly correlate with schools` proficiency growth in math and ELA. The results are similar in the early voucher period when the number of vouchers is limited and the late voucher period when the number of vouchers is expanded.

Author

• Yusuf Canbolat, Indiana University - Bloomington