Today, school reform efforts that called for the expansion of school choice options for American families and their children are based upon the theory that the ability to select among educational alternatives was connected to rights and privileges guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution. As a part of a national movement toward increased school…

Since Mueller vs. Allen (1983), several legal decisions have attempted to clarify what is the appropriate relationship between religion and public education in a democratic society. During this time, the United States legal system has shifted, moving the historic "establishment clause" away from a strict "separationist" view…

The Title I program, created in 1965, is the largest federal program supporting elementary and secondary education and is intended to help ensure that all children have the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency on challenging state standards and assessments. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) expanded the…

"Outlook" is the monthly newsletter of the Council for American Private Education (CAPE). This issue contains the following articles: (1) House Poised to Act on Education Tax Deduction; (2) PDK Poll [34th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools] Shows Big Jump in Support for School Choice;…

Two separate systems of education exist in the District of Columbia. In the private school system, students from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds are learning the basic skills and more, and are going on to college at high rates. In the public school system, the majority of students are consigned to deteriorating and dangerous schools in…

The Unsafe School Choice Option (USCO) (section 9532 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001) requires that each State receiving funds under the ESEA establish and implement a statewide policy requiring that students attending a persistently dangerous public elementary or…

This study examines how the federal government and states prepare to implement the No Child Left Behind Act. Researchers reviewed states' consolidated applications for federal grants; conducted telephone interviews with officials in 48 states, the District of Columbia, and 8 school districts; and reviewed relevant research. The study addresses…

Analyzes the private school choice debate through a review of the political and judicial history of efforts to provide private schools and their patrons with forms of public aid. It is predicted that a federal tax credit or tuition plan is not likely to succeed in Congress. (SLD)

After four years of failed attempts, lawmakers in the State of Florida sanctioned charter schools in 1996. This paper traces the political origins of the charter school movement in Florida and the USA as a whole. Examining legislation and reforms at the federal level, as well as state legislative proceedings, this paper identifies key political…

Evaluation of the coordination of vocational education and programs provided under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) included a survey of Florida's 24 service delivery areas (SDAs). The assessment was designed to provide a "snapshot" of the services provided to JTPA clients through educational institutions and on-the-job training…

This report analyzes problems in a proposal, submitted by Secretary of Education William J. Bennett, for Federal legislation to convert the Existing Chapter 1 program of the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act, which provides remedial educational services to disadvantaged students, into a tuition voucher program. The report, which is…

In 1990, President Bush and the nation's governors adopted six National Education Goals for the year 2000, calling for improvements in school readiness, high school graduation rates, curriculum mastery, math and science achievement, adult literacy and skills, and drug abuse and violence levels. Congress faces two overarching issues--identifying…

This document presents the November 2004 issue of the Council for American Private Education's (CAPE's) monthly newsletter, "Outlook." Articles in this issue include: (1) Government Report Shows Increase in Private Schools and Students; (2) CAPE Board Meets with Secretary Paige; (3) Forum Focuses on Market Education; (4) SAT Scores Go…

As a follow-up to an earlier ECS report on the extent to which states were prepared to implement President Bush's education plan, this report provides an in-depth examination of three major Bush plan initiatives: assessing student performance, motivating and assessing low-performing schools, and providing school-choice options. The report begins…

This report examines the outcomes of the John M. McKay Scholarships Program, a statewide voucher program for students with disabilities in Florida that provides students with taxpayer-funded vouchers to be used at private schools or at other public schools. It argues that the McKay voucher program, which started in 1999, is rife with…