This study is a follow-on to the School Choice Demonstration Project that was commissioned by the state of Wisconsin in the mid 2000s. Researchers from the University of Arkansas tracked the progress of students in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) along with a matched sample of students in traditional public schools. The matching method used here allows for the best measure of the true effect of an intervention outside of lotteries, which didn’t occur in Milwaukee.
There are two sets of results in the study, one for students that were in 9thgrade at baseline and one for students who were in 3rd through 8thgrade. Among 9th graders, effects were found on enrollment but not on graduation. Among 3rd through 8th graders, the study also found an effect on enrollment. They find that 50 percent of MPCP students in this group enrolled in college compared to 45 percent of Milwaukee Public Schools students. This difference was statistically significant.
The most compelling finding, however, is when the researchers examined college graduation. By April of 2019 when the data was collected, 11 percent of MPCP students in their sample had graduated from a four-year college, compared with 8 percent of students in the public school control group. In other words, MPCP students were 38 percent more likely to graduate from four-year colleges than their public school peers.
Last year’s version of this study found that students in the MPCP were more likely to enroll in college, but not to graduate. It appears that an additional year of data has had a dramatic effect on the findings.
There are a lot of factors that go into something like this – not least of which is that, by and large, the parents who use choice care about their kids’ education and are likely more involved. Parental involvement and support for education in the home are critical factors for student success.
But the other huge factor is the quality and nature of the education being provided. Not all schools provide a good education and not all education styles work for every student. Giving parents the ability to choose a god school that delivers education in a way that works for their kids is another critical factor for student success.
A study that states obvious.
If we can only get leftist religions to embrace the science of this study.
That proves difficult when they worship the monopoly.
Dont tell jjf, his head will explode.
“Giving parents the ability to choose a god school….”.
Typo perhaps, or spending public $$ on religion? Or are they actually studying to be god? That ought to get k in an apoplectic state.
Nord,
We have been over this…public school has their gods…you just stubbornly refuse to recognize them.
I can’t help it that you are stubborn.
Equal funding to choose is only way.
Lee Roi, you do what the word “choice” means, right?
If a child is in a religious school, they will expect some religious education. But that is the family’s choice.
k:
If you would have gone to a public school you would know that the proper tense is “have”. But you would still be wrong.
And being stubborn has nothing to do with being honest and truthful.
Nord,
This is from 2016-17, but chose it because it has pretty graphs…easier for your consumption. Spending for 19-20 is 15k per student.
http://www.maciverinstitute.com/2019/01/data-release-shows-just-54-of-k-12-funding-is-spent-on-instruction/
So who is conducting studies that attempt to untangle those factors, Owen? If you recognize that parental concern is a large influence, is it fair for the headline to say “Choice Works”? Why not say “Self-Selecting a Subset of Students and Parents Works”?
Jjf,
Yeah, because it is such a criminal act for parents to care about their kids education…
The cringeworthy arrogance of your bias is overwhelming.
I have no idea how you leaped to that conclusion, Kevin.
Your attitude for headline revision.
The hate of choice is obvious on your part.
jjf, your racism is showing again, just saying.
Who said anything about race?
Jjf,
Liberals….all the time!