Private School Choice and Character: More Evidence from Milwaukee

48 Pages Posted: 26 Feb 2019

See all articles by Corey DeAngelis

Corey DeAngelis

American Federation for Children; Cato Institute; Reason Foundation

Patrick Wolf

University of Arkansas - Department of Education Reform

Date Written: February 26, 2019

Abstract

We examine the effects of Milwaukee’s school voucher program on adult criminal activity and paternity suits. Using matched student-level data, we find that exposure to the program in 8th or 9th grade predicts lower rates of conviction for criminal activity and lower rates of paternity suits by ages 25 to 28. Specifically, exposure to the MPCP is associated with a reduction of around 53 percent in drug convictions, 86 percent in property damage convictions, and 38 percent in paternity suits. The program effects tend to be largest for males and students with lower levels of academic achievement at baseline.

Keywords: bottom-up reform, school violence, character education, school voucher, private schooling, religious schooling, school choice

JEL Classification: I28, I20

Suggested Citation

DeAngelis, Corey and Wolf, Patrick, Private School Choice and Character: More Evidence from Milwaukee (February 26, 2019). EDRE Working Paper No. 2019-03, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3335162 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3335162

Corey DeAngelis (Contact Author)

American Federation for Children ( email )

1020 19th St NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Cato Institute ( email )

1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001-5403
United States

Reason Foundation ( email )

1747 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009
United States

Patrick Wolf

University of Arkansas - Department of Education Reform ( email )

201 Graduate Education Building
Fayetteville, AR 72701
United States

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