Clearinghouse Praises University of Arkansas Evaluation of D.C. Voucher Program

The U.S. Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse released a one-page rating Feb. 23 of research conducted by a University of Arkansas team into the results of the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program.

The clearinghouse reported that the study meets high standards of rigor and is consistent with the clearinghouse' evidence standards.

Patrick Wolf, who holds the Twenty-First Century Chair in School Choice at the University of Arkansas, directs the School Choice Demonstration Project based in the College of Education and Health Professions' department of education reform. Wolf's team, in partnership with Westat, a contract research firm, has been evaluating the D.C. school choice program since 2004.

The researchers found that students who were offered vouchers to attend private schools scored higher on reading tests compared to students who were not offered vouchers. The gains were equal to about three months of additional learning over three school years. The authors found no statistically significant differences in math scores between the two groups.

President Bush signed legislation in 2004 that included $14 million annually for the program, which is the first federally funded K-12 scholarship program in the country. Eligible applicants were chosen by lottery to receive scholarships valued at up to $7,500 per year. Families of students who “won” a scholarship could use it to send their children at public expense to their choice of any of more than 60 District of Columbia participating private schools. Debate over reauthorization of the pilot program continues in Congress.