To accommodate declining enrollments and school integration, the Minneapolis, Minnesota school system instituted six widely varying alternative school programs, ranging from free schools to those employing fundamental methods. Students and parents can select the program that suits them best. (Author/PP)

Explains "educational choice," a funding policy giving parents the option to select their child's educational environment without financial penalty, and its importance to the American educational system. Suggests activities for supporters of educational choice, including raising awareness, dispelling misinformation, encouraging others to act, and…

This paper is part of a research project into parental choice, social class and market forces carried out by a team in Zaragoza (Spain). The main objective was to evaluate parents' choice of school and the consequences this may produce in terms of social exclusion and inequality. Additionally, our aim was to determine whether certain populations,…

This paper focuses on school choice and the extent to which admissions to publicly-funded secondary schools in England address issues of equity and social justice. It argues that schools with responsibility for their own admissions are more likely than others to act in their own self interest by "selecting in" or "creaming"…

This paper presents disadvantaged households' "mental models" about low-fee private (LFP) schooling for their daughters in a study in Lucknow District, Uttar Pradesh. It argues that assumptions in the dominant discourse on girls' schooling in India obscure the complex negotiations and trade-offs disadvantaged families make when…

The purpose of the Voluntary Public School Choice (VPSC) Program is to assist states and local school districts in the development of innovative strategies to expand options for students, and to encourage transfers of students from low-performing to higher-performing schools. This report presents interim findings from the National Evaluation of…

This document is the third in a series of handbooks designed to help educators who are considering controlled choice as a possible desegregation method. The document describes the educational philosophy, curriculum, teaching methods, school organization, and grading methods of traditionally organized schools. Four schools in the northeastern…

A new paradigm for putting school choice into perspective is offered in this paper, which argues that the administrative model of setting standards and increasing funding is not working for American schools. Choice, based on the market model, is advocated as a way to provide incentives and opportunities for change. Although choice programs take…

This paper examines arguments in favor of and against the use of educational vouchers as an alternative educational system. A review of literature concludes that some problems to be addressed include religion, ethnic equity, finance allocation, and transportation. It is argued that the free market creates competition, but not equal opportunity.…

Many school districts and states are examining parental choice as a means of improving public education. This document identifies various forms of school choice and describes existing programs across the United States. Within the public school system, choice programs fall into two basic categories--intra-district and cross-district. Intra-district…

This document examines the implications and feasibility of school-voucher programs for the California education system. Following the executive summary and introduction, section 2 describes privately provided voucher programs, specifically: the Educational CHOICE Charitable Trust (Indianapolis, Indiana); The Children's Educational Opportunity…

Quality public schools are the foundation of a democracy and a free enterprise economic system. This paper, a transcript of the speech delivered by United States Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, offers data to support the following themes: (1) vouchers threaten the fundamental mission of public education; (2) a voucher program which served…

This second volume from the National Working Commission on Choice in K-12 Education examines the connections between school choice and the goals of equity and efficiency in education. The contributors--distinguished university professors, high school administrators, and scholars from research institutions around the country--assess the efficiency…

Provides a historical overview of public education, advocates freedom of choice as the best method for distributing education, describes some of the benefits of parental choice, and answers objections to tuition tax credits. (SK)

Applies effective schools research to inner city magnet schools to create effective schools of choice that maximize both educational access and quality. Topics include the following: (1) school environment; (2) instructional leadership; (3) parent participation; and (4) admission processes. (FMW)