A Framework for Evaluating and Reforming School Vouchers

February 2025

Following the 2002 work of economist Henry Levin, who laid out a framework for evaluating school vouchers, we provide an updated framework involving four major goals: equity, effiency, accountability and democratic goals. We review what is known from recent research around these four major areas under today’s voucher programs. We raise questions that policymakers and advocates should ask when considering these programs. We provide guidance on how existing research and evidence can and should be used to inform policy decision making and how ongoing evaluation and data collection might be planned and implemented. We comment on the implications for these publicly funded private tuition schemes for the role of education in civic engagement and democracy. Finally, we provide a series of policy recommendations for more closely aligning existing voucher programs with the four major goals.

Keywords

school choice, voucher systems, equity, efficiency

Education level

K-12 Education

Topics

School Choice