With the Right Design, Vouchers Can Reform Public Schools: Lessons from the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program

Abstract

ABSTRACT Recent concerns over the efficacy of vouchers arise largely from a failure to distinguish between different types of school choice efforts: targeted vouchers, aimed at rescuing children from failing schools, and universal vouchers, aimed at systemic reform of the public school system. It is unreasonable to expect a targeted voucher program to produce the results expected from large universal vouchers. However, an analysis of changes in the Milwaukee Public Schools since 1990 reveals that even the limited competition from targeted vouchers can produce significant improvements in school district offerings, operations, and graduation rates. The analysis also leads to the identification of certain features of voucher design that are necessary for voucher competition to be an effective reform catalyst. When these features are not present, improvements are less likely to occur.