School Choice Debate - What Is School Choice?

Running head: SCHOOL CHOICE DEBATE

School Choice Debate

John Bennett

George Washington University

What is School Choice?

School choice is an educational reform movement that gives parents the right to choose which school their child attends. Public school choice was introduced into federal law with the passage of the “No Child Left Behind” Act of 2001 (NCLB). Specifically, NCLB states that parents can transfer their child to a higher performing public or charter school if the student is enrolled in a school identified as in need of improvement (No Child Left Behind Act, 2001). One form of school choice allows parents to use government-funded vouchers to send their children to private schools. This form is more controversial, and it raises difficult questions about the rights of parents and students, the separation of the church and the state, and the survival of public schools. Public school choice allows parents to transfer their children from lower-performing public schools to higher-performing public schools, and there is a variety of choice programs available to parents depending on their location.

Public school choice includes the following types: intra-district, inter-district, magnet schools, charter schools, and voucher plans. Intra-district choice allows parents to select among schools within their home districts. Inter-district choice allows parents to select from schools not only in their home districts but also schools across district lines. Magnet schools are public schools that offer specialized programs that are intended to attract students to less desirable schools or areas. Charter schools are publicly sponsored and supported by multiple school divisions. They have significantly less administrative intervention by local governments. Charter schools may be accountable for specific measures of student achievement in order to remain operational. Voucher plans provide federal funds to parents and students so they may attend schools of their choice, and some voucher programs allow choice of either public or private schools.

The School Choice Debate

Research in the area of school choice is abundant as are the views on the subject. School choice advocates contend that it creates healthy competition among schools, thus providing schools with an incentive to improve. This view tends to follow a business model where the school is accountable for the performance of the students. It must meet the needs of the students (and parents), who are the customers, in order to remain in business. If a school does not meet their needs, then parents should have the option of seeking better education opportunities