Mathematica Policy Research of Princeton, NJ is calling a recent study showing that vouchers for private school have helped black students significantly are "premature." The results, they say, were overstated by the lead researcher, a Harvard professor who is known within the academic community for his exuberant support for vouchers. The find lent support to backers of voucher programs, a hot topic in this election year.

"The pressure to get something out at election time was a much more dominant theme than the idea of letting it go through review," said Henry Levin, head of National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education.

The article, entitled "New Doubt is Cast on Study that Backs Voucher Efforts" appeared in the 9/15/00 edition of the New York Times.

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Published Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2001