This article unpacks the decision to decharter a successful urban middle school serving African American students, especially focusing on parental choice in a school caught between two urban reform initiatives: charter schooling and state takeovers of urban districts. Originally chartered by a university, DeCharter became a "school of choice" in…

A compelling body of research shows that when students are part of smaller and more intimate learning communities, they are more successful. The latest research demonstrates that small schools, particularly schools of choice, have a measurably positive impact on inner-city students, especially those from minority and low-income families. The…

This essay traces the history of the school reform movement from colonial times to the present. Public school reform tends either toward equalizing educational opportunity or higher academic achievement, but seldom both. The essay asks the question: Can public school provide equal educational opportunity and be excellent too? By tracing the…

This report describes state educational standards in effect for the 1989-90 school year. It is the third report in a series that has tracked state standards since 1984-85. The first part of the report summarizes state educational standards for the 1989-90 school year and the changes that took place across the states between 1984-85 and 1989-90.…

Designed to help parents make informed decisions about child care, preschool, and kindergarten placements, this book answers typical questions other parents ask about schooling decisions. Chapter 1 is a resource section based on current research and educational theory, and provides a brief summary of the best and most recent thought on early…

This book delineates the effects of the Great Depression upon the schools and explores how the supporters of public education responded to the retrenchment of school budgets. The introduction postulates that the public schools as a bureaucratic system in the best of times produced what it was capable of producing, which at times coincided with the…

This paper synthesizes 5 years of research examining three Minnesota school choice options for students with disabilities: (1) open enrollment; (2) High School Graduation Incentives (a second chance option for at-risk students); and (3) Postsecondary Enrollment Options Program (which allows 11th and 12th graders to enroll in college courses for…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined 60 school board members' perceptions of school desegregation and other policies aimed at enhancing the educational attainment of minority groups. Interviews were conducted with school board members in 12 American cities--Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; Green Bay,…

The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) provides tax support for children from low-income families to attend private schools. It is administered by the Wisconsin State Department of Public Instruction, although lack of administrative support for the program has been apparent. In addition, the Superintendent of Public Instruction has expressed…

This book contends that choice is critical to the process by which parents, students, and teachers can build consensus that allows a community of learning to emerge. It argues that the key to meaningful school choice is a system of tuition vouchers involving nongovernment schools, together with deregulation, which will foster an education that is…

This working paper examines key policy issues in the implementation of Australia's User Choice policy regarding allocating public funds for vocational education and training (VET). Part 1 explains the process used to obtain stakeholders regarding the User Choice policy, the administrative arrangements required to support it, and issues that must…

Noting that a high-quality preschool program is one that promotes learning through rich play experiences, this book gives parents information needed to select the right preschool for their children. Chapter 1, "Thinking about Preschool," discusses questions parents ask, practical considerations, beginning the search, and the screening phone call.…

VISION 21 uses community and staff input and the most current thought on reform in education to create the schools Cleveland wants. The full implementation of its plans will result in a quality education for all the city's children. This document provides the framework within which VISION 21 was developed, the planning process used in its…

This book examines various school choice alternatives and the educational philosophies underlying them, as well as providing an overview of the history of alternative education programs in the United States. An attempt is made to dispel the notion that all school choice plans are created equal and to show that, depending on the goals, some plans…

Minnesota's public educational system must be rebuilt in order to educate students for the complex and technological future, according to a committee of Citizens League members that met 42 times over 13 months with numerous educational observers and participants. The new educational structure should give parents more choices--with public…