A Think Twice Review of:

Review of Fiscal Effects of School Choice: Analyzing the Costs and Savings of Private School Choice Programs in America

Think Twice - Mar 15, 2022

Publisher/Think Tank - EdChoice

Author(s) - Martin Lueken

A recent report from EdChoice argues for expansion of policies that publicly fund private schools, contending that private schools could provide equal or better outcomes at lesser cost.

Reviewer(s) - Luis A. Huerta and Steven Koutsavlis, Teachers College, Columbia University

Luis A. Huerta and Steven Koutsavlis of Teachers College, Columbia University reviewed Fiscal Effects of School Choice: Analyzing the Costs and Savings of Private School Choice Programs in America, and found its accounting procedures to be based on conjecture. The report asserts that voucher and voucher-like (tax credit scholarship and education savings account) programs have saved state and local treasuries some $12.4 to $28.3 billion dollars as student “switchers” use those programs to leave public schools and enter private schools. The report claims that the purported savings result from the lower numbers of students in public schools coupled with lower variable per-student costs.