Policymakers designing ESA programs should use accountability and transparency provisions to require high-quality data that enables evaluation and policy refinement¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 2 studies (1 review, 1 qualitative), q2 · 0 of 2 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The brief recommends that state policymakers designing or redesigning ESA programs attend to accountability and transparency provisions because they interact with data and reporting practices: requiring programs to collect high-quality data lets state and external researchers generate more sophisticated evidence and evaluations, which policymakers can then use to update policy. The brief argues that if "state policymakers focus attention on accountability and transparency provisions for ESAs, they can require programs to collect high-quality data and information," supporting informed decisions by families, policymakers, and the public.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Statutory or regulatory authority to mandate data collection and reporting from ESA programs and participating schools

Constraints¶

• The brief notes assessment requirements under ESAs are largely informational, with few direct accountability mechanisms, so data quality depends on what statutes require

Target Learners¶

• K-12 students participating in ESA programs

Target Learning Goals¶

• Ensuring ESA funds are used in alignment with state policy and public will and support student learning

Affordances¶

• Three Types Esa Accountability Framework

Claims¶

• Most ESA statutes require data collection and public reporting, and many states publish annual report data beyond statutory requirements [+W]
• States collected and used data to track participation, evaluate quality, improve programs, and advocate for funding [+W]

Related Strategies¶

• Use transparency to promote professional accountability

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• Berry, W. & Chait, R. (2024). Education savings accounts and accountability: A landscape analysis across states. WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED663763