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Experimentally estimated impacts of school vouchers on college enrollment and degree attainment

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  • Chingos, Matthew M.
  • Peterson, Paul E.

Abstract

We provide the first experimental estimates of the long-term impacts of a voucher to attend private school by linking data from a privately sponsored voucher initiative in New York City, which awarded the scholarships by lottery to low-income families, to administrative records on college enrollment and degree attainment. We find no significant effects on college enrollment or four-year degree attainment of the offer of a voucher. However, we find substantial, marginally significant impacts for minority students and large, significant impacts for the children of women born in the United States. Negative point estimates for the children of non-minority and foreign-born mothers are not statistically significant at conventional levels. The information needed to match students to administrative data on postsecondary outcomes was available for 99% of the sample. We find evidence of substantial bias due to attrition in the original evaluation, which relied on data collected at follow-up sessions.

Suggested Citation

  • Chingos, Matthew M. & Peterson, Paul E., 2015. "Experimentally estimated impacts of school vouchers on college enrollment and degree attainment," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 1-12.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:122:y:2015:i:c:p:1-12
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2014.11.013
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    2. Michael Dinerstein & Troy D. Smith, 2021. "Quantifying the Supply Response of Private Schools to Public Policies," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 111(10), pages 3376-3417, October.
    3. Nano, Enrico & Panizza, Ugo & Viarengo, Martina, 2024. "Merit-based scholarships for university graduates: A generation of Italian economists," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
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    6. Brian P. Gill & Jennifer S. Lerner & Paul Meosky, "undated". "Re-Imagining Accountability in K-12 Education: A Behavioral Science Perspective," Mathematica Policy Research Reports d0c19d0709b641259fe391b2e, Mathematica Policy Research.
    7. Edgardo Zablotsky, 2024. "Postales sobre Educación en la Argentina, 2024," CEMA Working Papers: Serie Documentos de Trabajo. 885, Universidad del CEMA.
    8. McKendrick, Andrew & Walker, Ian, 2020. "The Role of Faith and Faith Schooling in Educational, Economic, and Faith Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 13192, IZA Network @ LISER.
    9. Dennis Epple & Richard E. Romano & Miguel Urquiola, 2017. "School Vouchers: A Survey of the Economics Literature," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 55(2), pages 441-492, June.
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    11. Nomoto, Soma, 2024. "The effect of free Tuition in private High schools on the High school dropout rate," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    12. Alessandrini, Diana & Milla, Joniada, 2022. "School Choice and Higher Education Attainment," IZA Discussion Papers 15330, IZA Network @ LISER.

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