The benefit of churn? Examining the market characteristics of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program

Abstract

ABSTRACTBoth sides of the debate on school choice point to the failure of schools in choice programs as evidence for their position. To opponents of choice, school failures point to the lack of accountability of the voucher sector, and the need for greater governmental control. To choice supporters, failures represent the marketplace working, as poor-performing schools are pushed out. Applying a survival analysis to newly available data on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, this study texts the extent to which market forces promote growth in high-performing schools, while culling low performers.