Distribution of Education Savings Account Usage among Families: Evidence from the Florida Gardiner Scholarship Program

Abstract

ABSTRACT Education savings accounts (ESAs) are education funding mechanisms that allow families to receive a deposit of public funds to a government-authorized savings account for accessing approved educational services. Using student-level longitudinal data, this paper examines how families participating in the Florida Gardiner Scholarship Program use education savings account funds. Results indicate that families use an increasing proportion of ESA funds when students remain in the program for multiple years. The longer students remain in the program, the share of ESA funds devoted to private school tuition decreases while expenditure shares increase for curriculum, instruction, tutoring, and specialized services. Although students in rural areas use a lower portion of their ESA funds than families in urban and suburban areas, they spend smaller portions of their funds on tuition and appear to customize more.