The current voucher law doesn't provide an opportunity for researchers to get the kind of evidence that would be necessary to draw conclusions about the performance of the students in the voucher schools. The answers to questions like these could help us understand what kind of return Wisconsin taxpayers are getting as a result of their investment in educational vouchers. In contrast, Wisconsin's SAGE program is held up nationally as a model of good legislative policymaking. It does a number of things well. It is voluntary.
Individual schools have freedom to design their own programs.
It holds schools accountable by requiring annual performance contracts. It effectively reaches the students it is intended to serve. And it has an independent evaluation that provides data for legislators and policymakers.