Controversies over the merits of public and private education have never been more prominent than today. This book evaluates public and private schooling, especially in regard to choices families must make for their children. While choice among public schools is widely advocated today by families and states, public support for private…

Quality public schools are the foundation of a democracy and a free enterprise economic system. This paper, a transcript of the speech delivered by United States Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, offers data to support the following themes: (1) vouchers threaten the fundamental mission of public education; (2) a voucher program which served…

The United Kingdom (UK) system of public education and training has been fundamentally reformed over the last 15 years. The improvements were designed to raise the quality of the system through increased autonomy for schools, colleges, and universities; a strengthened framework of accountability; enhanced parental and student choice; a more…

This policy paper examines the products, services, and innovations that a fully competitive marketplace could generate if the government loosened its grip on education, noting that the failure of government-run schools to prepare students for the rigors of the modern economy is a pressing policy problem as well as an opportunity for the private…

Provides a historical overview of public education, advocates freedom of choice as the best method for distributing education, describes some of the benefits of parental choice, and answers objections to tuition tax credits. (SK)

Argues that mandatory busing, while resulting in cases of "White flight," has had positive consequences in the re-emergence of "choice" programs and magnet schools. Contends that choice programs can be expanded on intradistrict, metropolitan, and statewide levels. Suggests that Federal funding and private education should be…

Charter schools are appealing because they focus on results, subscribe to a democratic philosophy, enhance choice options, permit true decentralization, enable local school boards to emphasize policy, and provide a more market-driven educational system. Charter schools are serving at-risk students and providing unique learning environments,…

The concept of public education is on national trial and is being exploited by interests intending to train our children to be good customers, rather than good citizens. Market terminology cannot express ideals of a free, universal education. The real choice is whether all children will receive an excellent education irrespective of their place of…

New data from SAT scores, the Second International Assessment of Educational Progress, and other sources show that American public education compares favorably with that of other advanced nations, despite mass media hysteria. Performance levels on academic indicators may reflect demographic factors more strongly than educational system quality.…

Disappointed with educational reform progress, the authors of "Winning the Brain Race" now believe that public schools no longer deserve monopolistic protection and can withstand competition from private schools and home schooling. The boundaries of public and private are already blurred by contracting for services. Technological…

Extends Feldstein's notion of wealth neutrality to embrace fiscal neutrality, using a representative consumer context. Employs an "ideal" demand system to model school district expenditures in a general equilibrium framework. Rejects constant price and income elasticity demand models. Supports the fiscally neutral elasticity model…

In 1996, a voucher scheme was introduced to promote educational provision for preschool children in Scotland. Qualitative and quantitative explorations of the views of parents and providers describe the workings of the educational "market" when one of the competing sectors (public sector) had a substantial monopoly power over the others…

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…

In Boston, City on a Hill Charter School's commitment to civic education challenges the notion that charter schools are inherently privatizing forces in public education reform. Through expanded choice, inclusive decision making, and localized accountability, charter schools can be a democratizing force that serves multiple publics, including…

Maintains that arts educators must guide students toward an understanding of artistic excellence that will inspire them to be avid audiences for art. Asserts that more rigorous and substantive standards in the arts curriculum is the first step toward reform. Describes alternatives to public education and the choice of charter schools. (CMK)