An additional 200,000 students entered public and private elementary schools in Fall 2000. Elementary schools numbered 63,000 in 1997-98 and are steadily growing larger. Most have Internet connections. Proportionately more black than white or Hispanic kids are enrolled in preschool programs. Well-educated parents volunteer more often. (MLH)

This article presents research on the school choice processes and practices in a large urban district on the West Coast. It shares the stories of three mothers' experiences with public school choice and tells how, through the process of choosing schools for their children, they became participants in the inequities and inequalities of the…

Whether public and private school choice initiatives usher in widespread enrollment changes or whether they cater to a small niche of students critically depends on the decisions that parents make on behalf of their children. Thus far, participation rates in most programs have proved disappointing. This article focuses on parents' knowledge of and…

Parents observing the national debate about educational choice may believe that choice possesses characteristics that are both positive and negative at the same time. The definition of choice should stem from the amount of choice provided. Unrestricted choice allows parents to choose any school in the state. Restricted choice has limitations such…

This guide, first in a series of four volumes, is designed to give information to parents and other decision makers on costs and benefits of different kinds of choices of schools that children might attend. Four sections present digests of information based on research and evaluation studies. Section 1 introduces the format and purpose of the…

Educational equity can only be achieved when poor parents are empowered to intervene effectively in the education of their children, exercising their ability to make choices and develop specific expectations that translate into day-to-day support for the learning process. (PS)

Describes the production of a survey investigating what kinds of magnet schools parents and teachers want. Discusses: (1) the information sought; (2) pre-survey information-gathering and public discussion; (3) the creation of a citywide parent planning council; (4) constructing, conducting, and distributing parent and teacher surveys; and (5)…

Charter schools have been alternately hailed as the promise, and derided as the scourge, of public education in the United States. This article focuses on the effects of Minnesota's charter schools on leadership, outreach, and parental involvement in charter schools and traditional public schools. The author concludes that Minnesota's charter…

Regardless of the location, the extent of a family's involvement in a child's early childhood program affects how well the child adjusts and how much he or she learns. When families take part in their children's educational programs; children do better in school, and the quality of their education can improve. This 2-page issue of "The Early…

Colorado charter schools are public schools operated by a group of parents, teachers, and/or community members as a semiautonomous school of choice within a district. They have increased competition and spurred districts to develop more attractive alternatives. Colorado's Standards Based Education Act requires charter and other schools to adopt…

Interviews with parents of British students moving to secondary schools in one district investigated relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and families' activities within school quasi-markets. Relationships were complex and multifaceted. There were strong relationships between both SES and educational level and the degree of family…

Since March 1989, Boston has attempted to implement three elements deemed successful for successful school choice programs: fair assignment procedures, an effective parent information system, and interventions to help certain schools become more competitive. The Boston experience shows the difficulties involved in reforming a monopoly governed by…

Presents results of a survey of school superintendents concerning impacts of school choice. Cites improved parent participation, interdistrict competition, educational opportunities for those of limited means, and identification of districts needing special services as reasons favoring parental choice. Reports that superintendents identified…

Describes a rural Illinois early-intervention program that incorporates long-term planning, interagency collaboration, and parental involvement in the transition of developmentally delayed young children to preschool programs. Compares four types of programs for disabled preschool students, and identifies factors for parents to consider in program…

Questionnaire responses from 337 parents in Israel examine the nature of interrelationships between parent satisfaction with public schools of choice and parent empowerment, parent involvement, and the congruence of parental expectation with school programs. Findings indicate the importance of socioeconomic status as a factor in these…