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Vouchers For Special Education Students: An Ecaluation of Florida's McKay Scholarship Program
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A recent study by the Manhattan Institute found that students using McKay vouchers received better services in a number of ways. In their previous public schools, their classes averaged 25 students, but in McKay schools, only 13. In their previous public schools, 47 percent were bothered often by other students because of their disabilities and 25 percent were physically assaulted, while in McKay schools, only 5 percent were bothered often and 6 percent were assaulted.
Parents overwhelmingly report that their McKay schools provided better services than their previous public schools . They also report that their students are making more academic progress - 93 percent were satisfied with their children's academic progress, compared with 17 percent at public schools. Furthermore, while many private school teachers are not certified for special education, teacher quality also appears to be better at McKay schools; 92 percent of parents were satisfied with the teachers at McKay schools, compared with 46 percent at public schools. Clearly, vouchers give disabled students a much-needed escape from the rigid and unresponsive special-education bureaucracy in the public school system. |