Kim K. Metcalf, Stephen D. West, Natalie A. Legan, Kelli M. Paul and William J. Boone
Indiana University School of Education
December 2003
This is the final report in a series examining the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program (CSTP), recently the star of the Supreme Court's Zelman decision (see http://www.edexcellence.net/gadfly/issue.cfm?issue=19#200 for earlier coverage of this series). Using achievement data and demographic information from 1998-2002, along with telephone surveys, the analysts address two related sets of questions. First, which students use the CSTP, what types of classrooms and teachers do they experience, and how does their achievement compare to those not in the program? Second, why do parents choose to enroll their children in the program and what school characteristics do they most value? The questions, alas, are more intriguing than the results. The authors find no noticeable difference in achievement between voucher students and public school students. We also don't learn anything terribly new or surprising about parents' preferences: mostly, they want safe schools, with academics a close second. (Recall that surveys rarely uncover actual preferences, as people often say one thing and do another.) But the report does raise some interesting issues. To wit, the achievement analysis continues to show better results for students in larger classes. And the report contends that the program doesn't help the neediest, as some families said that the required contribution from their own pockets toward tuition (10 percent, or about $250) kept them from taking the vouchers. And finally, the implications of the Supreme Court decision itself are noteworthy. Zelman raised awareness of the CSTP, which perhaps helped in recruiting participants. But the uncertainty that surrounded the program while the case was unresolved may have reduced the number of parents willing to try the vouchers and limited the types of schools participating. To explore these issues, and the achievement data, in greater depth you can find the technical reports and a summary online at http://www.indiana.edu/~iuice/rprt_rqs.html.
