An Analysis of the Academic Performance of Voucher Students in the Opportunity Scholarship Program

Abstract

In accordance with the Florida Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), students attending public schools that receive failing grades are eligible to receive vouchers to attend a higher performing public or private school. An analysis of standardized test performance across a 2-year period compared students attending “F” schools to students who participated in the OSP. Students attending “F” schools were more likely to improve their Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) level standing in math during the 2-year period than OSP-Private school students. Also, the percentage of students achieving math and reading proficiency (Level 3 or greater) in the FCAT decreased significantly among the OSP-Private group. Overall, students participating in the OSP academically performed about the same as students attending “F” schools across a 2-year period with the exception that OSP-Private school students underperformed in math when compared to students attending “F” schools.