ERIC Number: ED612038
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 14
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
School Choice: Complex Choices--How Parents Navigate School Options in Duval County. inBRIEF. Issue 7, Fall 2014
Jacksonville Public Education Fund
The landscape of school choice options in public education has been expanding faster than ever over the past decade, nationwide and especially in Florida. With this expansion has come an unprecedented array of new decisions that parents and guardians must learn to navigate as they seek the best school for their children. Options available to students now -- from traditional neighborhood schools to charter schools, virtual schools and private schools, among others -- can differ greatly in terms of curriculum and testing requirements, classroom structures, application procedures, parent requirements and more. This report takes a closer look at the evolution and impact of various school choice options in Duval County. Jacksonville Public Education Fund examined the enrollment patterns of more than 200,000 students in Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) over the past five years, and surveyed more than 1,000 parents of students in all types of schools across Duval County to better understand what they look for in choosing the right school for their children. Findings indicate an increasing number of parents moving their children out of traditional neighborhood schools to choice options over the past several years -- particularly during the transitions to middle and high school. Despite many parents' concerns about academic and safety issues at their neighborhood middle or high school, there was no significant differences on average in fifth to sixth grade learning gains between groups of students staying within or moving outside of their neighborhood zoned school. Nearly across the board, parents at all types of schools rated teacher quality and safety among the most important factors to them in evaluating the best school for their children. The recommendations in this brief include a number of specific ways that state or district systems and individual schools of any type can better address parent concerns and priorities, as well as tips for caregivers looking to identify the best school option for their own children.
Descriptors: School Choice, Educational Trends, Parent Attitudes, Preferences, Teacher Effectiveness, School Safety, Public Schools, Charter Schools, Neighborhood Schools, Magnet Schools, Virtual Schools, Private Schools, Home Schooling, Educational Vouchers, Brain Drain
Jacksonville Public Education Fund. 40 East Adams Street Suite 110, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Tel: 904-356-7757; Fax: 904-394-2005; e-mail: info@jaxpef.org; Web site: http://www.jaxpef.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF)
Identifiers - Location: Florida (Jacksonville)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A