ERIC Number: ED649348
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 125
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3819-7121-7
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Illusion of Choice: The Realities of a Compulsory Public School Choice Program and Its Impact on Opportunity
Delilah Holmes
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Northeastern University
The purpose of this action research study was to investigate and improve the school choice experience for students in a large urban school district on the East Coast. Participants in Cycle 1 were comprised of middle and high school staff, and data was collected via surveys, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. Action steps included the implementation of a website, the School Choice Companion, to improve awareness and engagement with the program. These steps were designed, implemented, and evaluated in Cycle 2 to expand awareness of the school choice program and procedures; as well as to engage students and parents in the process at an earlier stage to extend opportunity to more students. Findings from this study indicated that there is widespread lack of awareness around school choice; that the current program maintains equity of process, not equity of access; and finally, that the program is associated with disparities in opportunity among students. Implications for the organization included the need to implement comprehensive strategies to address the structural inequities experienced by students living in poverty and to spread awareness of the program to disadvantaged students and families. It is also recommended that school district officials reexamine how scores for high school eligibility are calculated. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: School Choice, Public Schools, Action Research, Urban Schools, School Districts, Middle Schools, High Schools, Professional Personnel, Web Sites, Audience Awareness, Program Effectiveness, Access to Education, Equal Education
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A