Working Paper - No . 18 - If You Build It This Way, They Will Come

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle

Unsurprisingly, the proliferation of statewide school choice policies has increased student use. Research often focuses on how these policies affect student outcomes, yet policies differ in design and in student take-up. An exploratory study tracked initial enrollment rates across nearly all existing school choice programs, assessing how specific design features influence take-up through an economic market-based framework and measuring enrollment-determining elements, alongside relevant state conditions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages54

Reading Time2 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract or Executive Summary

Introduction

Main Section in Title Case

Secondary Section in Title Case

Tertiary Section in Title Case if Necessary

Quaternary Section in Title Case if Necessary

Conclusion

Notes (or References)

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

About the Author(s)

Acknowledgments

List of Figures

List of Tables

WORKING PAPER No . 18 JULY 2025 If You Build It This Way, They Will Come Misty Gallo, University of Arkansas [mlgallo@uark.edu](mlgallo@uark.edu) Colyn Ritter, EdChoice [colyn@edchoice.org](colyn@edchoice.org) Patrick J. Wolf, University of Arkansas [pwolf@uark.edu](pwolf@uark.edu) ABOUT EDCHOICE EdChoice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Our mission is to advance educational freedom and choice for all as a pathway to successful lives and a stronger society. We are committed to understanding and pursuing a K–12 education ecosystem that empowers every family to choose the learning environment that fits their children’s needs best. EdChoice is the intellectual legacy of Milton and Rose D. Friedman, who founded the organization in 1996 as the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. The contents ofthis publication are intended to provide empirical information and should not be construed as lobbying for any position related to any legislation. EdChoice Working Papers are meant for wide circulation, inviting reader feedback, and for informing national and state conversations about reform ideas, policymaking, and implementation, driven by educational choice. EdChoice internally reviews each paper but does not necessarily send out for external reviews. We welcome and encourage hearing from you. Please feel free to contact the authors directly – or Paul DiPerna, our Vice President of Research and Innovation – about your impressions and comments. [Misty Gallo:](Misty Gallo: mlgallo@uark.edu)[ ](Misty Gallo: mlgallo@uark.edu)[mlgallo@uark.edu](Misty Gallo: mlgallo@uark.edu) Colyn Ritter: [colyn@edchoice.org](colyn@edchoice.org) [Patrick J. Wolf:](Patrick J. Wolf: pwolf@uark.edu)[ ](Patrick J. Wolf: pwolf@uark.edu)[pwolf@uark.edu](Patrick J. Wolf: pwolf@uark.edu) [Paul DiPerna:](Paul DiPerna: paul@edchoice.org)[ ](Paul DiPerna: paul@edchoice.org)[paul@edchoice.org](Paul DiPerna: paul@edchoice.org) Authors are responsible for the content provided in EdChoice working papers. Table of Contents Abstract or Executive Summary Introduction Main Section in Title Case Secondary Section in Title Case Tertiary Section in Title Case if Necessary Quaternary Section in Title Case if Necessary Main Section in Title Case Secondary Section in Title Case Tertiary Section in Title Case if Necessary Quaternary Section in Title Case if Necessary Conclusion Notes (or References, if using in-text parenthetical citations [WORKING PAPERS ONLY]) Appendix 1: With Short Title in Sentence Case Appendix 2: With Short Title in Sentence Case About the Author(s) Acknowledgments List of Figures Figure 1: A theoretical model of private school market response to universal school choice policy Figure 2: A theoretical framework for understanding choice from a demand determinants perspective Figure 3: A revised theoretical framework for understanding choice from a demand determinants perspective Figure 4: Effectiveness of bullying management by the school, disaggregated by income level Figure 5: Negative perceptions of bullying management by the school, disaggregated by locale type Figure 6: Ineffective bullying management by school disaggregated by state List of Tables Table 1: School choice programs by state, type, launch year, enrollment, funding, & school participation Table 2: Descriptive statistics of variables used in the analysis Table 3a: Association of statewide features with funded population participation rate Table 3b: Association of statewide features with full population participation rate Table 4a: Association of statewide and policy features with funded population participation rate Table 4b: Association of statewide and policy features with full population participation rate Table 5a: Association of statewide and policy features in categorical clusters with funded population participation rate Table 5b: Association of statewide and policy features i

FAQs

What is the main focus of the exploratory study described in the abstract?

It tracks initial enrollment rates across existing statewide school choice programs to identify how specific design features affect take-up, using an economic market-based framework from the demand side.

How does the study evaluate whether design features influence enrollment rates?

It measures specific policy design elements to assess whether they determine enrollment rates and analyzes relevant state conditions for their impact on take-up rates.

What kinds of policies are discussed by the document’s keywords?

The keywords indicate attention to education savings accounts, school vouchers, and broader school choice program take-up, together with policy design factors.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle