ERIC Number: EJ1404057
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 9
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1539-9664
EISSN: EISSN-1539-9672
The Great Unbundling: Is the Parents' Rights Movement Opening a New Frontier in School Choice?
Olchefske, Joseph; Adamowski, Steven
Education Next, v23 n4 p18-26 2023
The traditional K-12 schooling model is a "bundled" product that provides parents with an all-in-one package of services: instruction, transportation, lunch, extracurriculars, and athletics, all delivered by one provider in one location: the school. Historically, parental choice has been limited to selecting from among different schools--neighborhood, magnet, or, for those with the means, private schools. In the 1990s, states started passing legislation that defined school choice in these "whole school" terms, with charters, vouchers, and scholarships providing families with alternatives to schools operated by their local district. However, in response to the widespread school closures sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, many parents opted for a pick-and-choose, customized approach to schooling that they hoped could fill gaps in the remote learning opportunities their local districts were providing. This article discusses the pros and cons of "The Great Unbundling" and the future challenges and opportunities for K-12 school systems.
Descriptors: Parent Rights, School Choice, Elementary Secondary Education, Charter Schools, Educational Vouchers, Scholarships
Education Next Institute, Inc. Harvard Kennedy School, Taubman 310, 79 JFK Street, Cambridge, MA 02138; Fax: 617-496–4428; e-mail: Education_Next@hks.harvard.edu; Web site: https://www.educationnext.org/the-journal/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A