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Publicly funded voucher programs attempt to target low-income families, but concern exists as to whether such programs actually "cream" students from public schools. Data collected as part of the evaluation of the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program are used to examine whether differences exist between three subgroups of applicants and entrants to the Cleveland voucher program within and across time. This research suggests that voucher recipients who choose not to use their voucher tend to be more minority and lower income than those who are awarded and use a voucher and those who apply for but are not awarded a voucher. Across time, individuals who receive and use a voucher tend to attend a private school prior to applying for a voucher, whereas individuals who apply and are not awarded or who choose not to use an awarded voucher tend to attend public schools prior to applying for a voucher. (Contains 6 tables.)

Research suggests that families who make active choices regarding their child's education differ from families who do not. Differences between families of private (voucher), charter, and public school students were examined using data collected as part of the evaluation of the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program. While both voucher and charter school families were more satisfied than public school families with their child's school, charter school families were found to differ from both voucher and public school students in that they were more White, were of higher income, were more likely to be married, and were more highly educated. (Contains 1 table.)