WWC review of this study

The Effects of Statewide Private School Choice on College Enrollment and Graduation: Evidence from the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Education Policy Program. Research Report

Chingos, Matthew M.; Kuehn, Daniel (2017). Urban Institute. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED585325

  • Quasi-Experimental Design
     examining 
    59,846
     Students
    , grades
    4-11

Reviewed: January 2018

At least one finding shows moderate evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards with reservations
Access and enrollment outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
37,739 students

44.90

38.50

Yes

 
 
6
 

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
22,107 students

47.50

41.50

Yes

 
 
6
 
Show Supplemental Findings

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Asian; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
155 students

86.90

58.50

Yes

 
 
32

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Asian; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
396 students

77.10

62.30

Yes

 
 
17

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

FTC for 4+ years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
1,907 students

52.60

38.50

Yes

 
 
14

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

FTC for 3 years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
32,160 students

48.10

38.50

Yes

 
 
9

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Top quartile of baseline math achievement; intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
3,985 students

65.40

57.00

Yes

 
 
9

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

FTC for 3 years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
18,975 students

49.40

41.50

Yes

 
 
8

Enrollment in community college

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
37,739 students

40.50

34.50

Yes

 
 
6

Enrollment in community college

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
22,107 students

43.70

37.60

Yes

 
 
6

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Traditional public school at baseline; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
35,621 students

45.00

38.50

Yes

 
 
6

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 2 years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
19,413 students

47.40

41.50

Yes

 
 
6

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Traditional public school at baseline; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
20,836 students

46.80

41.10

Yes

 
 
6

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Born outside U.S.; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
34,326 students

43.60

37.80

Yes

 
 
6

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Used FTC to attend Other Christian school; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
23,475 students

42.90

37.00

Yes

 
 
6

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Reduced-price lunch; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
8,403 students

50.50

45.80

Yes

 
 
5

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Used FTC to attend Other Christian school; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
14,157 students

45.50

40.00

Yes

 
 
5

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

"Other" race/ethnicity: Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
1,002 students

45.70

41.50

Yes

 
 
4

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

FTC for 2 years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
32,587 students

41.80

38.50

Yes

 
 
3

Enrollment in public university

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
37,685 students

6.56

6.06

Yes

 
 
2

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Used FTC to attend Nonreligious school; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
4,376 students

41.50

40.00

Yes

 
 
2

Enrollment in public university

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
22,082 students

5.83

5.63

Yes

 
 
1

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

FTC for 1 year; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
19,780 students

42.50

41.50

Yes

 
 
1

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

FTC for 1 year; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
33,606 students

39.70

38.50

Yes

 
 
1

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Reduced-price lunch; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
15,068 students

48.50

48.20

Yes

 
 
0

College enrollment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Used FTC to attend Nonreligious school; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
2,675 students

40.30

40.00

Yes

 
 
0
Attainment outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Bachelor's degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
8,665 students

5.90

5.50

Yes

 
 
2

Associates degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
24,580 students

7.80

7.20

Yes

 
 
2

Associates degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
19,817 students

8.20

8.20

Yes

 
 
0

Bachelor's degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

2 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
2,744 students

5.00

5.40

Yes

-2
 
 
Show Supplemental Findings

Associates degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 4+ years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
21,529 students

9.30

7.20

Yes

 
 
7

Bachelor's degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 3 years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
7,412 students

6.90

5.50

Yes

 
 
6

Associates degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 3 years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
20,945 students

8.20

7.20

Yes

 
 
3

Associates degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 3 years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
17,019 students

9.20

8.20

Yes

 
 
3

Bachelor's degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 2 years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
7,707 students

5.70

5.50

Yes

 
 
1

Bachelor's degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 1 year; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
2,463 students

5.30

5.40

Yes

 
 
0

Bachelor's degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 1 year; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
7,744 students

5.40

5.50

Yes

 
 
0

Associates degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 1 year; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
21,941 students

7.10

7.20

Yes

 
 
0

Associates degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 2 years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
21,242 students

7.00

7.20

Yes

-1
 
 

Associates degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 1 year; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
21,163 students

7.60

8.20

Yes

-2
 
 

Associates degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 2 years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
20,850 students

7.70

8.20

Yes

-2
 
 

Bachelor's degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 2 years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
2,379 students

4.60

5.40

Yes

-4
 
 

Bachelor's degree attainment

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

0 Years

FTC for 4+ years; Intervention first experienced in Grade: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
2,404 students

4.50

5.40

Yes

-5
 
 
Credit accumulation and persistence outcomes—Indeterminate effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Number of semesters enrolled at Florida public college

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
16,458 students

2.31

2.14

Yes

--
Show Supplemental Findings

Number of semesters enrolled at Florida community college

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
16,458 students

1.84

1.61

Yes

--

Number of semesters enrolled at Florida university

Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Intervention first experienced in Grade: 9, 10, 11;
16,458 students

0.43

0.47

Yes

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.

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    Florida

Setting

The study authors examined the effects of receiving a voucher to attend a private elementary or secondary school on postsecondary outcomes for economically disadvantaged students in Florida. The Florida Tax Credit (FTC) program provides private school scholarships for students in grades K–12 whose household incomes are under designated income thresholds. From 2003 to 2006, students were eligible for FTC if they lived in a household with income up to 185% of the federal poverty level, which was the threshold to receive free or reduced-price lunch. From 2006 to 2009, the eligibility threshold increased to a household income of 200% of the federal poverty level.

Study sample

The sample of FTC participants who began participating in FTC before high school were 51% female, 23% White, 43% Black, and 31% Hispanic. About 9% of this sample was born outside of the United States, and about 85% received free or reduced-price lunch. The sample of FTC participants who began participating in FTC during high school were 47% female, 21% White, 46% Black, and 30% Hispanic. About 11% of this sample was born outside of the United States, and about 76% received free or reduced-price lunch.

Intervention Group

FTC participants received a voucher to attend a private elementary or secondary school in Florida. The average length of participation in FTC was 2.8 years for students who began participating in FTC before high school and 2.1 years for students who began participating in FTC during high school. The maximum scholarship amount was originally $3,500 but rose to over $6,000 in 2017.

Comparison Group

The comparison condition is business as usual for students enrolled in public elementary, middle, and high schools in Florida.

Support for implementation

No support for implementation is described.

 

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