In Japan, not attending public school is stigmatized, and alternative education is in its infancy. Reviews free spaces, which are not schools, but places for traumatized students to recover; home schooling networks; government-approved independent alternative schools; alternative after-school programs; and innovative programs within the system.…

A Nebraska district surveyed parents' reasons for sending their children to private or Catholic schools. Reasons could be grouped in categories: concerns and issues (such as religion) that public schools cannot address; and concerns (such as discipline, values, curriculum, and academic rigor) public schools could address by changing their programs…

Fifth Graders (N=626) from public, Catholic, Christian, and home schools reacted to values of forgiveness versus retribution in the two main versions of "Cinderella" by choosing which ending they preferred for themselves, for a 4-year old sister, and for a 4-year old brother. Girls preferred the forgiveness ending for themselves…

Based on the alleged growth in the number of families seeking unapproved alternative schooling arrangements, this paper reviews related state legislation and court litigation. Both home schooling and small, unapproved private schools are discussed. According to the paper, in virtually every state, enforcement of minimum standards for private…

This two-page fact sheet is introduced by Department of Education Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, who states that she recognizes the contribution that nonpublic schools make towards the educational excellence and strength of our society, and that the Department is committed to ensuring that private school students and teachers…

This paper reviews how the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) will operate regarding different groups of students and schools, examining factors that could delay or dilute its guarantee of educational accountability for the academic achievement of all children. It discusses such issues as: what kinds of tests must be used and when, who must…

The range of nonpublic schools in the United States is considerable, from home instruction by parents to prestigious private schools, with or without religious affiliation. The continuing growth in nonpublic education can hardly be blamed on a disenchantment with or an apathy toward public schools; the central common denominator is a basic concern…

A husband and wife team of Montessori-trained teachers started a private school in Brewster (New York) that also serves as a home school resource center. Their practices include mixed-age grouping, learner-centered instruction, optional standardized tests, parents in the classrooms, and frequent field trips. They endured 3 years of dealing with…

Investigated the undergraduate success of college graduates from three high school settings (home schools, private schools, and public schools) nationwide. Data included 40 indicators of college success reflecting five domains of learning outcome (achievement, leadership, professional aptitude, social behavior, and physical activity). Overall,…

Although ample research has investigated critical-thinking skills among college students from state-supported higher education institutions of nonreligious affiliation, virtually none has examined critical thinking among students enrolled in private Christian colleges, nor the effect of prior educational setting on students' critical-thinking…

This study was geared foremost to the needs and interests of district leaders and seeks to help them understand RSO/district relationships and make informed decisions about collaborating with external organizations. Its findings can also be of use to other key leaders of school reform such as school board members and other elected and appointed…

School choice is a highly controversial topic in Massachusetts. It is estimated that a minimum of 200,000 students are participating in some form of school choice in Massachusetts; when considering intra-district school choice, at least one in four Massachusetts students are in a setting over which their families exercised some form of choice.…

In this article, the author discusses the idea of "Pell Grants for Kids," a plan that would provide a $500 scholarship to each middle- and low-income child in America. Children could use these scholarships at any public or private school or for any educational program, such as private tutoring. Homeschooled children would also be…

The Accelerated Christian Education Curriculum used in many fundamentalist private schools and home schooling in Australia is examined in the areas of Social Studies and Science and found to be at odds with widely accepted educational principles, not in compliance with registration requirements for private schools, and designed solely for the…

This statistically representative survey of 1,203 likely Virginia voters illustrates public opinion on a wide range of K-12 education issues. The underlying purpose of the Friedman Foundation's state surveys is to measure voter knowledge and attitudes toward public institutions and policies, innovative ideas, and the state's K-12 education system.…