New Release: Available Seats? Our New Essay About Private School Choice

The Show-Me Institute is pleased to announce the release of our new policy paper, “Available Seats? Survey Analysis of Missouri Private School Participation in Potential State Scholarship Programs.” I surveyed private school administrators in Kansas City and Saint Louis regarding their willingness to participate in a state-sponsored scholarship program (i.e., vouchers, education savings accounts ESA, or tax credit scholarships).

Some of the key findings from this essay are:

• Seventy percent of private school leaders in Kansas City and Saint Louis indicated they are interested in a state-sponsored scholarship program.

• A relatively modest scholarship amount of $3,000 would entice more than half of the schools to participate, opening up more than 2,000 seats to new students.

• A well-designed voucher/ESA or tax credit scholarship program could save the state and local school districts millions of dollars.

I will be presenting the findings of this research project in Saint Louis on Jan. 14 and in Kansas City on Jan. 21. For more information about these events and to RSVP, visit the Show-Me Institute’s website.