On January 31, 1996, Pioneer Institute Executive Director James A. Peyser delivered an address to the Boston Economic Club, in which he proposed radical reforms to the structure of public education. This publication contains an edited transcript of the speech. The speech argues that after 30 years of stagnation and decline, only fundamental…

A program implemented in a school district in central New Jersey was designed to: (1) create at least four magnet school options for elementary school children; (2) reduce the suspension rate at the elementary level; (3) reduce the student referral rate for special education; (4) decrease the number of students requiring basic skills services; and…

Major arguments, both pro and con, for applying the "schools of choice" approach to educational improvement in Detroit (Michigan) are described, and the results of a recent public opinion survey are reported. The main argument of proponents of school choice is that it will improve the quality of public education. Opponents of choice do…

This special issue journal on the politics of urban education contains the following articles: (1) "The Politics of Urban Education as a Field of Study: An Interpretive Analysis" (K. K. Wong); (2) "Urban Education as a Field of Study: Problems of Knowledge and Power" (J. G. Cibulka); (3) "Knowledge and Power in Research into the Politics of Urban…

Although the national education goals announced in February 1990 were influenced by the goals defined by the Quality Education for Minorities Project, the recommendations of the project did not influence the administration's America 2000 strategy for achieving the goals. America 2000 does not address the problems that make it almost impossible for…

This guide for learning-disabled postsecondary students in Colorado was prepared from information obtained in a survey of 43 postsecondary schools and colleges in Colorado. An introductory section titled "Getting Started" explains the types of postsecondary schools, admissions policies, terminology, and types of services for…

The keynote addresses introduced conference participants both to general perspectives on school choice and to a specific focus on Maryland issues, concerns, and problems. In the panel discussion, four educational administrators discussed particular aspects of choice plans in their own subdivisions in different states. In the six discussion groups,…

This booklet offers Canadian parents guidance on finding high-quality child care. The booklet begins by defining quality child care, indicating that child care should support a child's emotional, social, intellectual well-being and that child caregivers are the key to quality child care. The characteristics of quality child care settings are also…

Statistics collected during the 1989-90 school year are provided concerning the tuition and fees, and the room and board charges required of full-time students at nearly 4,000 colleges within the United States. The report is intended to provide an indication of what a typical student should expect to pay to attend college and is designed for…

Existing choice plans, which allow parents and students to choose among a variety of schools, vary dramatically in size, shape, and purpose. Different types of choice programs have different impacts, especially on low-income and minority group students; and it is not yet clear how school choice programs should be structured to assure that those…

To assist parents, educators, and law-makers, this guide presents each state's Compulsory Education Law for Home Schooling situations. Compilation of facts and laws derives from materials collected from the chief state school officer or designated authority. Because many states are updating laws and requirements, the manual is intended as a…

This booklet examines the roles of several sources of funding for Catholic schools. The first chapter points out major differences between Catholic schools and public schools, discusses why some parents are willing to pay for a Catholic education, and reviews the history of the development of the Catholic school system in the United States.…

This paper proposes a radical alternative to the current system of residence-based attendance: permit parents to send their children to schools near their workplaces, as a supplement to existing arrangements. This approach not only expands parental choice in education, but also helps to overcome other limitations inherent in residence-based school…

This brief examines how No Child Left Behind (NCLB) dollars flow from the federal government through states and districts and into the coffers of companies, mostly for-profit companies. The brief makes the case that the law enriches many private companies and individuals, especially those close to President George W. Bush and his family. The brief…

Efforts to promote greater educational opportunity (compensatory spending, racial desegregation of schools, higher standards, reduced class size, and private school vouchers) have fallen short. Research indicates that middle-class schools generally work well, and any given child will do better in a middle-class than a low-income school. This paper…