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

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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
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