Civic Report No. 38 June 2003 Vouchers for Special Education Students: An Evaluation of Florida’s McKay Scholarship Program Appendix C: Survey Methodology Interviews were conducted by Taylor Nelson Sofres Intersearch using a Computer Assisted Telephone (CATI) system. Professional survey interviewers trained in standard protocols for administering survey instruments conduct all surveys with parents/guardians of Current and Former students of the McKay school. Interviewers assigned to this project participated in a special training conducted by senior project staff. Prior to the start of interviewing an advance letter was sent to all sample households on Florida Department Of Education stationery. This letter was mailed one week prior to full scale interviewing. A pretest of the questionnaires and protocols was conducted on March 18, 2003. Each sample piece received up to 6 calls in order to complete an interview. The female parent or guardian was always requested at the beginning of the interview Current Survey A total of 600 interviews were conducted with respondents whose child is currently enrolled in a McKay school. Of these 600 interviews, 19 originated from the Former sample list. Full-scale data collection was conducted March 20, 2003 to April 6, 2003. The average length of interview was 14 minutes and the incidence of reaching a qualified respondent was 94% The confidence interval (alpha level=.05) assumes a base of all respondents (not those asked a specific question where all respondents were asked the question). They are calculated at the maximum width (i.e., assuming a p=.5). For current participants the margin of error is +/- 3.9%. Former Survey A total of 215 interviews were conducted with respondents whose child no longer attends a McKay School. Of these interviews 61 originated from the Current sample list. Full-scale data collection was conducted March 20, 2003 to April 6, 2003. The average length of interview was 15 minutes and the incidence of reaching a qualified respondent was 82%. The confidence interval (alpha level=.05) assumes a base of all respondents (not those asked a specific question where all respondents were asked the question). They are calculated at the maximum width (i.e., assuming a p=.5). For the former participants in the program, the maximum margin of error is +/- 6%.

EMAIL THIS | PRINTER FRIENDLY CR 38 PDF (334 kb) WHAT THE PRESS SAID SUMMARY: This new study, by Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Jay P. Greene, Ph.D. and Greg Forster, Ph.D., is the first empirical examination of the Florida McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities, the nation’s second largest voucher program and the first and only program to offer school vouchers to all special education students in public schools. The study, through telephone surveys of parents of both current and former voucher recipients, shows that participants in the McKay program are being significantly better served by McKay schools compared to the child’s previous public school—regardless of the race, income, or disability level of the voucher recipient. TABLE OF CONTENTS: Executive Summary About the Authors Acknowledgments Introduction Background Previous Research Method Results Parental Satisfaction Class Size Services Provided Individual Education Plans Behavior Problems Problems with Other Students Tuition and Fees Above the Scholarship Demographics Difficulty Finding an Acceptable School Transportation Whether the McKay Program Should Continue Conclusion References Appendix A: Tables and Figures Appendix B Appendix C: Survey Methodology