View in EDS

NEPC Review: 'Estimating the Long-Run Impact of a Universal ESA Program in Mississippi' (EdChoice, December 2025)

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: NEPC Review: 'Estimating the Long-Run Impact of a Universal ESA Program in Mississippi' (EdChoice, December 2025)
Language: English
Authors: David S. Knight, University of Colorado at Boulder, National Education Policy Center (NEPC)
Source: National Education Policy Center. 2026.
Availability: National Education Policy Center. School of Education 249 UCB University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309. Tel: 303-735-5290; e-mail: nepc@colorado.edu; Web site: http://nepc.colorado.edu
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice
Document Type: Reports - Evaluative
Opinion Papers
Descriptors: State Programs, School Choice, Program Effectiveness, Educational Finance, Educational Policy, Economic Impact, Reports, Criticism, Measurement, Private Schools, Educational Attainment
Geographic Terms: Mississippi
Abstract: A recent EdChoice report estimates the long-term economic returns of a universal education savings account (ESA) policy in Mississippi, arguing that taxpayer-funded ESAs--used for private tuition and other expenses--would generate economic benefits. While rigorous research is essential as school choice programs expand, the report's methodological errors, faulty assumptions, and misleading conclusions undermine its value for policymaking. It bases its projections on studies of vouchers and tax-credit scholarships rather than ESAs, miscalculates benefits, and ignores program costs despite evidence of substantial state expenditures. As a result, it misleads state leaders about investing limited education dollars, and lawmakers should consult broader research before advancing private school choice policies.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED681130
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED681130
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED681130
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: NEPC Review: 'Estimating the Long-Run Impact of a Universal ESA Program in Mississippi' (EdChoice, December 2025)
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22David+S%2E+Knight%22">David S. Knight</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22University+of+Colorado+at+Boulder%2C+National+Education+Policy+Center+%28NEPC%29%22">University of Colorado at Boulder, National Education Policy Center (NEPC)</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22National+Education+Policy+Center%22"><i>National Education Policy Center</i></searchLink>. 2026.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: National Education Policy Center. School of Education 249 UCB University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309. Tel: 303-735-5290; e-mail: nepc@colorado.edu; Web site: http://nepc.colorado.edu
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 16
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: SourceSuprt
  Label: Sponsoring Agency
  Group: SrcSuprt
  Data: Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Evaluative<br />Opinion Papers
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22State+Programs%22">State Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Choice%22">School Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Effectiveness%22">Program Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Finance%22">Educational Finance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+Impact%22">Economic Impact</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reports%22">Reports</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Criticism%22">Criticism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Measurement%22">Measurement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Private+Schools%22">Private Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Attainment%22">Educational Attainment</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mississippi%22">Mississippi</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: A recent EdChoice report estimates the long-term economic returns of a universal education savings account (ESA) policy in Mississippi, arguing that taxpayer-funded ESAs--used for private tuition and other expenses--would generate economic benefits. While rigorous research is essential as school choice programs expand, the report's methodological errors, faulty assumptions, and misleading conclusions undermine its value for policymaking. It bases its projections on studies of vouchers and tax-credit scholarships rather than ESAs, miscalculates benefits, and ignores program costs despite evidence of substantial state expenditures. As a result, it misleads state leaders about investing limited education dollars, and lawmakers should consult broader research before advancing private school choice policies.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED681130
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED681130
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: State Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Finance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Economic Impact
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reports
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Criticism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Measurement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Private Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Attainment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mississippi
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: NEPC Review: 'Estimating the Long-Run Impact of a Universal ESA Program in Mississippi' (EdChoice, December 2025)
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: University of Colorado at Boulder, National Education Policy Center (NEPC)
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: David S. Knight
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 02
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: National Education Policy Center
              Type: main
ResultId 1