Historically, private education has been an option mostly for families who could afford the cost or received financial help. Years of research have shown that many families would choose private schools and other educational resources for their children if they did not face insurmountable financial or geographical limitations. Private educational…

In Duval County today, parents are presented with more options than ever and sorting through the education landscape has been described as a "full time job." This document presents some factors and questions, based on previous conversations with parents, to consider asking schools about when making this important decision.

For more than two decades, tax-credit scholarship (TCS) policies have helped American families provide their children with the learning environment that meets their individual needs. Now available in 19 states, nearly 300,000 students nationwide use tax-credit scholarships to attend the school of their family's choice. TCS policies create an…

Tax-credit scholarships (TCS) are among the fastest growing education choice programs. These programs incentivize individuals and businesses to donate to nonprofit organizations that provide tuition scholarships to eligible students. In exchange for their donations, donors receive a tax credit from the state--ideally a 100 percent,…

This guide aims to help parents understand the flexibility provided to States and school districts in the "Every Student Succeeds Act" (ESSA), which amended the "Elementary and Secondary Education Act," a landmark Federal education law. Parents are the most important advocates for their children. Because States and school…

The coming decade holds immense potential for dramatic improvement in US education and in the achievement of American children--provided that people seize the opportunities at hand and are not deterred by the obstacles to change. In this volume, members of the Hoover Institution's Koret Task Force on K-12 Education examine both the potential gains…

ED"Facts" is a U.S. Department of Education (ED) initiative to govern, acquire, validate, and use high-quality, kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) performance data for education planning, policymaking, and management and budget decision making to improve outcomes for students. ED"Facts" centralizes data provided by state…

In this powerful collection of personal accounts, successful and respected teachers from across the country reveal how recent education policies have played out in their schools and classrooms in negative and counterproductive ways, and offer teacher-led alternatives for providing equitable, engaging, and empowering education. Framed by critical…

Communities across the country are grappling with different approaches to improving their schools. Introducing or expanding charter schools is one of the approaches that states and school districts have considered or implemented. Charter schools serve more than 5 percent of public school students nationwide and make up close to 7 percent of all…

Getting a sound education is important to a student's ability to make a good living in a field they will enjoy. For many students graduating from high school, that includes high quality career technical (or vocational) education tailored to a specific job. In California, such programs are available in a wide range of fields, from healthcare to the…

The Praeger Handbook of American High Schools contains entries that explore the topic of secondary schools in the United States. Entries are arranged alphabetically and cover topics as varied as assessment to the history of the American high school, from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to gay and straight student alliances, from the No…

This illustrated booklet, prepared to help Buffalo students choose a public high school according to their special interests, may also serve as a model for preparing other school choices brochures. It is divided into eight major sections, reflecting the diversity of specialized schools and programs operated by the Buffalo Public School District:…

This booklet provides parents and students with information about individual schools and programs within the Boston Public School system. The first section answers common questions about enrollment procedures, school assignments, bilingual education programs, kindergarten, transportation eligibility, family changes of address, and parent…

Three "systems" approaches to school reform are outlined. The national standards and assessment movement targets poor student performance nationally. Parental choice advocates want to bring market competition into public schooling. Integrated human services draw from education and social service agencies to provide a comprehensive, coherent…

This document presents an annotated list of resources on parent involvement and citizen participation in education. Articles, books, reports, studies, guidebooks, and manuals were reviewed. Materials which were considered most interesting, relevant, and useful were selected. Materials of special interest or value to parents are specially marked…