Inherently Flawed? An Analysis of Private School Opt-outs in a Statewide Educational Scholarship Program

Q: What problem does the paper address?

The paper examines why private schools participate at low rates in a statewide educational scholarship program, focusing on supply-side explanations.

Q: How does the study measure participation?

It analyzes how private schools’ racial demographic composition and the racial demographics of potential choice students relate to the likelihood of participation.

Q: What main finding does the study report?

Private schools that previously served the highest percentages of White students (94% or more) are significantly less likely to participate than schools serving lower percentages (less than 86%).

Q: Why are the findings important for education policy?

The results limit the potential supply of participating private schools and raise new questions about how school choice interacts with segregation.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by dawugda

An ample supply of choice schools is essential to a strong private school choice program, yet private-school participation remains limited and has driven research focused on supply-side barriers. This study analyzes previously unexplored explanations for low private school opt-outs in a statewide educational scholarship program. It evaluates how private-school racial demographics and the racial demographics of potential choice students affect participation likelihood in the Alabama Educational Scholarship Program, finding lower participation among schools that previously served the highest shares of White students.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Research focus and problem

Analytical approach and variables

Key findings and implications

| education policy analysis archives
A peer-reviewed, independent, open access, multilingual journal | | | --- | --- | | Arizona State University | | | Volume 33 Number 36 June 3, 2025 ISSN 1068-2341 | | Inherently Flawed? An Analysis of Private School Opt-outs ina Statewide Educational Scholarship Program Annah Rogers University of West Alabama United States & Bryan Mann University of Kansas United States Citation: Rogers, A., & Mann, B. (2025). Inherently flawed? An analysis of private school opt-outsin a statewide educational scholarship program. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 33(36) . [https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.33.8634](https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.33.8634) Abstract: An ample supply of choice schools is integral to a robust private school choice program; however, widespread participation from private schools has proven elusive. Low participation rates have sparked an entire segment of the school choice literature focused on the supply side of school choice. In this paper, we examine previously unexplored explanations for low private school participation rates in a statewide educational scholarship program. Specifically, we analyze how private schools’ racial demographic s and the racial demographics of potential choice students impact the likelihood of participation in the Alabama Educational Scholarship Program. We find that private schools previously serving the highest percentages of White students (94% +) are significantly less likely to participate than less White schools (<86%), thereby limiting the potential supply of private schools and raising new questions about the interaction of school choice and segregation. Keywords: school choice; private education; segregation; diversity; education policy ¿Defectuoso por naturaleza? Un análisis de la exclusión de escuelas privadas en un programa estatal de becas educativas Resumen: Una amplia oferta de escuelas con opción de elección es fundamental para un programa sólido de elección de escuelas privadas; sin embargo, lograr una participación generalizada de escuelas privadas ha resultado difícil. Las bajas tasas de participación han generado una línea completa de investigación en la literatura sobre elección escolar centrada en el lado de la oferta. En este artículo, examinamos explicaciones previamenteno exploradas para las bajas tasas de participación de escuelas privadas en un programaestatal de becas educativas. En particular, analizamos cómo la demografía racial de las escuelas privadas y de los posibles estudiantes beneficiarios influye en la probabilidad departicipación en el Programa de Becas Educativas de Alabama. Descubrimos que las escuelas privadas que anteriormente atendían al mayor porcentaje de estudiantes blancos (94% o más) son significativamente menos propensas a participar que aquellas con una menor proporción de estudiantes blancos (menos del 86%), lo que limita la ofertapotencial de escuelas privadas y plantea nuevas preguntas sobre la interacción entreelección escolar y segregación. Palabras clave: elección escolar; educación privada; segregación; diversidad; política educativa Falhas inerentes? Uma análise da exclusão de escolas privadas em um programaestadual de bolsas educacionais Resumo: Uma ampla oferta de escolas com opção de escolha é essencial para um programa robusto de escolha escolar privada; no entanto, a participação ampla das escolasprivadas tem sido difícil de alcançar. As baixas taxas de adesão despertaram um segmento inteiro da literatura sobre escolha escolar voltado ao lado da oferta. Neste artigo, investigamos explicações até então inexploradas para as baixas taxas de participação deescolas privadas em um programa estadual de bolsas educacionais. Especificamente, analisamos como a demografia racial das escolas privadas e dos possíveis estudantes beneficiados afeta a probabilidade de participação no Programa de Bolsas Educacionais do Alabama. Descobrimos que as escolas privadas que anter

FAQs

What problem does the paper address?

The paper examines why private schools participate at low rates in a statewide educational scholarship program, focusing on supply-side explanations.

How does the study measure participation?

It analyzes how private schools’ racial demographic composition and the racial demographics of potential choice students relate to the likelihood of participation.

What main finding does the study report?

Private schools that previously served the highest percentages of White students (94% or more) are significantly less likely to participate than schools serving lower percentages (less than 86%).

Why are the findings important for education policy?

The results limit the potential supply of participating private schools and raise new questions about how school choice interacts with segregation.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by dawugda