@article{0b7cce50ec164abb9da58dbd045fab06,
title = "Who uses a means-tested scholarship, and what do they choose?",
abstract = "This paper provides detailed evidence regarding the nature of selection into a school voucher system. We use micro-data on scholarship applications matched with state student-level records on test scores, schools attended, and demographic background characteristics to describe the attributes of students who choose to participate in Florida's Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program, a means-tested scholarship program that is the largest of its type in the United States. We find evidence that those who choose to participate in the program tend to be lower-performing students from poorly performing schools, and that students of different backgrounds tend to choose different types of private schools. Students participating in the program tend to select schools that have more white students and fewer minority students, regardless of student race.",
keywords = "School vouchers, Selection, Stratification",
author = "David Figlio and Hart, {Cassandra M.D.} and Molly Metzger",
note = "Funding Information: This paper presents the first evidence on this subject from a large statewide program, Florida's Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship Program, a program that is funded via corporate income tax creditable donations to scholarship funding organizations that work in concert to provide scholarships to attend both sectarian and non-religious private schools. In 2007–2008, scholarship recipients attended 933 different private schools. First accepting students in 2003, Florida's program now provides scholarships for over 20,000 students throughout the state. In 2007–2008, scholarships amounted to $3,950 or school tuition, fees, and transportation costs, whichever is lower, and renewal scholarships were $4200. 1 1 To be eligible, students must come from families with incomes below 185% of the poverty line (the federal reduced-price lunch eligibility threshold), though families may continue to receive scholarships so long as their incomes remain below 200% of the poverty line. In addition, unless the student is entering kindergarten or first grade, the student must have attended a Florida public school for at least one year before becoming eligible for a scholarship. Funding Information: This research was funded with a grant from the Florida Department of Education, but all analysis and opinions reported herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views for the Department. We are grateful to Kim Tolland, Rachel Frattarola, and Frank Leung for excellent research assistance, and to Ken Mease and Hank Levin and participants of the meetings of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management and the Southern Economic Association for thoughtful comments. Jay Pfeiffer, Jeff Sellers, Tammy Duncan, Ginny Rudell, Tera Teders, Cindy Forster and Heather McDonough-Moore provided invaluable assistance in understanding and employing the data utilized in this study. We alone are responsible for any errors.",
year = "2010",
month = apr,
doi = "10.1016/j.econedurev.2009.08.002",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "29",
pages = "301--317",
journal = "Economics of Education Review",
issn = "0272-7757",
publisher = "Elsevier Limited",
number = "2",
}