Throughout this article, we discuss the neoliberal assault on public education, specifically in the United States, which, through coercive means, is anti-feminist, racist, and classist and demonstrates a deliberate attack on the female-dominated teaching profession. By contextualizing and analyzing education policies through a framework of…

School choice programs have proliferated around the world since the 1980s. Following this international trend, the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) was launched in 1991 to revitalize Hong Kong's private school sector. DSS schools receive a similar subsidy per student to that received by aided schools, but they may charge fees and have greater control…

This article reviews educational initiatives of state and federal government that were designed to remedy the effects of racial segregation on Black public school students in the United States after the famous "Brown v. Board of Education" decisions. Several policy and legal initiatives are reviewed, including school desegregation,…

Charter schools are one form of decentralizing public education by shifting power into the hands of school stakeholders by providing them with more "voice" in day-to-day decisions. However, the increasing involvement of educational management organizations (EMOs) as managers of charter schools raises new questions about the influence of school…

Discusses whether the alternatives to traditional education that were promoted in the past decade have lived up to their promise of creating a school environment that is conducive to learning for all students, focusing on magnet schools, educational vouchers, privatization and charter schools, and home schooling. (SM)

Addresses the legal interface between the privatization of school services and the politics of urban education. Considers the political forces both outside and within education, as well as the problem of privatization contracting undertaken without considering the legal ramifications. Offers suggestions for education leaders who may wish to…

Introduces a collection of articles that critically examines the assumption that privatization is an effective means to increase competition, improve educational achievement, and provide a cure for the national decline in the American standard of living. The historical and political backgrounds of privatization are discussed, along with a summary…

Argues that private providers of services for handicapped children have to deal with due process under the color of state law and, since federal funds are involved, due process under the Fifth Amendment. Such laws involve parental approval of their child's education and allow use of the federal courts to settle grievances. A legal analysis is…

Argues that education is a public good and cannot fit into the privatization model. It provides a critique of the first large-scale contract signed in the country by the Baltimore Public School District and a private company, Educational Alternatives, Inc., revealing political difficulties surrounding school control and dissatisfied teachers who…

Explores the theories and concepts of privatizing public school services. It is argued that education is a required service for all children, and, unlike business and industry, private education providers cannot fire their unwanted clients, i.e., poor-performing students, parents, or teachers. The issue of efficiency vs effectiveness is addressed…

Analyzes the private procurement of noninstructional goods and services and provides information about this movement that suggests individuals are looking for a "quick fix" for educational problems. It examines problems with contracting out for services and shows the strain this places on urban superintendents. Finally, an analysis of contracting…

Views the use of private vendors as a way of cost reduction and efficiency improvement. It argues that contracting out for services reduces administrator overload, provides better technical expertise and economies of scale, and reduces supervisory work. Privatization also brings political implications involving employee job loss and service…

Discusses the legal issues related to privatization. States with "charter" schools have not established guidelines for local school districts entering into privatization contracts for services. It is argued that public schools operate under state law, and therefore, vendors operating under state law become de facto public companies, making the…

Analyzes the Baltimore Public School District's contract with a private for-profit company to manage the instructional programs of nine schools. It shows that the award of the contract was solely a political consideration; no financial experts were involved. Additionally, the program has not improved test scores and is being challenged by the…

Examines ways to encourage and implement public education for excellence. Reviews current trends and social problems and the history of public education, government mandates, volunteer efforts, and mixed initiatives such as privatizing all or part of a school system and cooperative arrangements among public agencies that serve children. (JB)