Public education in the U.S. has failed miserably. A substantial reason for this is that parents are not empowered to shape the course of their children's education. Under a system of choice, schools will improve, having to compete to survive. This paper argues that the responsibility for education should be devolved from the state and vested in…

This study uses Pierre Bourdieu's concept of cultural capital to understand varying levels of parent participation in schooling. Bourdieu argues that schools draw unevenly on the social and cultural resources of members of the society by invoking particular linguistic styles, authority patterns, and types of curricula. The cultural properties…

Elmore (1990) has presented two contrasting models of school restructuring, each with different views about who is empowered--teachers or parents. This book examines what happens when schools and school districts attempt to implement either of these models. Following the introduction, "Examining School Restructuring Efforts," by G.…

This paper summarizes the major recommendations agreed on at a conference of parents, educational administrators, and educators from 21 school systems in five New England states. The subject of the conference was choice in public education. First, excerpts from opening remarks and a note on the conference are presented. Then, major recommendations…

The continuing popularity of Buffalo's 12 year old magnet school program proves that the program is successful in the following: 1) providing equity for minority and majority - students; 2) attracting integrated student bodies; 3) offering innovative educational opportunities that meet student needs; and 4) providing parents and teachers a major…

The Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO) supports educational initiatives that transform learning and provide families, especially low income families, with exemplary options and the power to choose the most appropriate option for their children. It actively promotes parental choice and increased educational opportunities for black…

The Philadelphia Education Longitudinal Study (PELS) on the transition to ninth grade in Philadelphia highlights the high school choice process, course failure rates during ninth grade, and parents' responses to the transition to high school. The PELS study followed a city-wide random sample of public school students from the summer after eighth…

This special issue pulls together several strands of research about home-school relationships' influences on school effectiveness. The first article presents a comprehensive model linking various research and policy initiatives with the effective schools framework. The remaining articles discuss family influence on schools through choice and…

The Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) has launched a new initiative entitled "Doing School Choice Right." Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates, Annie E. Casey, and Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundations, the initiative's goal is to help state and local leaders handle practical issues whose resolution can determine whether school…

This study investigated possible effects of school choice programs by surveying 200 private schools in large urban areas. The survey instrument requested information on school demography, possible effects of participation in a Choice program, costs, selection of students participating in Choice, and climate and parental involvement. Analysis of…

Suggesting that all Americans join together in the effort to educate children, this paper presents 1-page "tip sheets" (on 8 separate topics in education) that provide tips for what families, schools, businesses, colleges, and community groups can do to meet the challenges facing American education. Each tip sheet presents background…

The Richmond (California) Unified School District's System for Choice allows parents and students to select from a variety of programs designed to satisfy diverse interests and needs. This publication describes offerings at De Anza High School, a Paideia school. De Anza is the only high school in the district that offers Classical Studies, a…

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…

The Chicago Public Schools have recently been restructured by the Illinois General Assembly, radically altering patterns of governance (voice) and patterns of choice in Chicago. This paper analyzes the history of the Chicago restructuring campaign and the specific conception of school-based governance enacted into law. The paper also analyzes the…

Poor students and parents in the East Harlem schools of New York City's Community District 4 should have the same opportunity to obtain the benefits of school choice available to the wealthy, who can afford private and parochial schools. Parental choice can provide the catalyst for educational reform by introducing a market mechanism to the public…