Participation in the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program Since the 2017 Reauthorization

Many policymakers champion private school voucher programs as a way to improve educational outcomes. For nearly two decades Congress has provided federal funds for the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) to help low-income children attend private schools in the nation’s capital. Throughout this period, there have been legislative efforts to restrict and, most recently, expand the OSP. As calls to grow the program persist, it is important to assess whether program participation appears consistent with that goal. This report explores that question, examining families’ expressed interest in and use of scholarships offered to them in the years following Congress’ 2017 update of the program. It finds that since the 2017 reauthorization, there has been no notable increase in eligible families' interest in the program. Most new applicants offered an OSP scholarship to attend a participating private school the next year choose not to use it. 

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