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ERIC Number: ED572232
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Aug
Pages: 55
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
School Choice: Private School Choice Programs Are Growing and Can Complicate Providing Certain Federally Funded Services to Eligible Students. Report to Congressional Requesters. GAO-16-712
US Government Accountability Office
Voucher and education savings account (ESA) programs fund students' private school education expenses, such as tuition. In school year 2014-15, 22 such school choice programs were operating nationwide, all but one of which was state funded. Under two federal grant programs, one for students with disabilities and one for students from disadvantaged areas, districts are required to spend a proportionate amount of their federal funds to provide equitable services for eligible private school students, and this population includes eligible students in private school choice programs. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review these topics. This report examines (1) participation in private school choice programs and the characteristics of students; (2) program requirements for participating private schools; and (3) how the Department of Education (Education) supports districts' efforts to deliver these federally funded services in the context of school choice programs. GAO reviewed relevant federal laws and regulations, surveyed all voucher and ESA programs as of fall 2015, and interviewed Education officials and other stakeholders. GAO also reviewed documents and interviewed state, public school district, and private school officials in a nongeneralizable sample of 10 private school choice programs in four states, selected to include programs with large enrollment and a range of eligibility criteria. The following are appended: (1) Objectives, Scope, and Methodology; (2) Private School Choice Programs' Use of Disability Status and Family Income to Determine Student Eligibility, as of School Year 2014-15; (3) Private Schools Participating in Voucher Programs; (4) Comments from the Department of Education; and (5) GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments.
US Government Accountability Office. 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20548. Tel: 202-512-6000; Web site: http://www.gao.gov
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative; Legal/Legislative/Regulatory Materials
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: Policymakers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: US Government Accountability Office
Identifiers - Location: Arizona; Indiana; Ohio; Wisconsin
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A