9.3 School Choice and Alternative Education Models

School choice policies aim to give families more options beyond their assigned public school. These include charter schools, vouchers, and magnet programs. The goal is to provide personalized learning and specialized programs to fit students' needs.

Alternative education models offer unique approaches outside traditional schooling. Examples are online schools, vocational programs, and alternative schools for at-risk students. These models cater to diverse learning styles and circumstances, aiming to engage all types of learners.

School choice and its forms

Definition and goals of school choice

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• School choice refers to educational policies and programs that allow students to attend schools other than their assigned public school
• The goal is to provide families with options to best fit their children's needs (personalized learning, specialized programs, religious education)

Intradistrict and interdistrict choice

• Intradistrict choice allows students to choose among public schools within their resident school district
  • Options may include magnet schools, alternative schools, or open enrollment policies
• Interdistrict choice enables students to attend public schools outside of their resident district
  • Requires agreements between participating districts to accept transfer students
  • Allows families to access specialized programs or higher-performing schools not available in their home district

Charter schools and their characteristics

• Charter schools are publicly funded schools that operate independently from the traditional public school system under a charter granted by the state
• They have more autonomy over curriculum, staffing, and operations compared to district-run public schools
• Charters may be operated by non-profit organizations, universities, or for-profit companies
• Some charters focus on a particular educational approach (project-based learning) or student population (at-risk youth)

Voucher programs and education savings accounts

• Voucher programs provide students with public funds to attend private schools of their choice, including both secular and religious schools
  • Voucher amounts are typically a portion of the per-pupil spending in public schools
  • Program eligibility may be based on family income, student disability, or attendance at a low-performing public school
• Education savings accounts (ESAs) give families public funds to use for approved educational expenses
  • Covered expenses can include private school tuition, online courses, tutoring or therapy
  • Funds are deposited into a government-authorized account for parents to manage
  • Allows for customization and mixing of educational services to fit a student's individual needs

Homeschooling as a school choice option

• Homeschooling is when parents provide education for their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional public or private school
• Parents assume responsibility for their child's educational program, though they may use a variety of resources and curricula
• Homeschooling laws and regulations vary by state, with some requiring notification or approval from the local school district
• Motivations for homeschooling include religious beliefs, dissatisfaction with school curricula or environment, or desire for flexibility

Alternative education models

Magnet schools and their unique features

• Magnet schools are specialized public schools that focus on a particular subject area or theme (STEM, fine arts, world languages)
• They aim to attract a diverse student body through unique educational offerings and often have competitive admissions
• Magnet programs can be housed within a comprehensive school or operated as a standalone school
• Unlike charters, magnets are operated by the school district and teachers are district employees

Alternative schools for at-risk students

• Alternative schools serve students whose needs are not being met in traditional schools
  • Includes students at risk of dropping out, with behavioral issues, or special circumstances like teen parents
• They provide flexible schedules, smaller class sizes, and customized academic and social-emotional support
• Goal is typically to help students get back on track and transition back to a traditional school environment
• Some alternative programs are housed within a traditional school while others are separate schools

Online and virtual schools

• Online schools deliver instruction virtually to students learning at home or other locations
• Curriculum and teaching are provided by the school, differentiating it from homeschooling
• Some online schools are operated by public school districts, while others are run by private companies or organizations
• They offer flexibility for students who need non-traditional schedules or struggle in typical classroom environments
• Concerns include lack of socialization, screen time, and difficulty self-directing learning for some students

Vocational and technical education programs

• Vocational/technical schools prepare students for specific trades, crafts and careers (automotive repair, cosmetology, healthcare)
• Programs are more focused on career readiness compared to the general education at most high schools
• Can be offered as a standalone school (vocational high school) or an specialized track within a comprehensive high school
• Hands-on learning experiences and internships are common to give students real-world skills
• Aim to equip non-college-bound students with marketable skills and a pathway to well-paying jobs

Arguments for and against school choice

Impact of market competition on school quality

• Proponents argue that school choice creates competition, encouraging schools to improve quality and be responsive to families' preferences
  • Traditional public schools must innovate and address shortcomings or risk losing students
• Critics counter that competition has not consistently led to better outcomes, especially for students remaining in district schools
  • Choice can drain resources and high-performing students from public schools, making it harder for them to improve

School choice as a tool for equity and access

• Choice is seen by advocates as a way to provide disadvantaged students access to higher quality schools
  • Low-income and minority students are disproportionately concentrated in underperforming schools
  • Choice programs can give them options previously limited to more affluent families
• Opponents argue choice policies can actually increase segregation
  • Advantaged families are more likely to exercise choice, leaving disadvantaged students behind in struggling schools
  • Some schools of choice have barriers to entry (academic requirements, transportation, parental involvement) that screen out certain students

Allowing for diverse educational approaches and parental empowerment

• Supporters believe choice allows for a diversity of educational approaches so students can find the best fit
  • One-size-fits-all district schools may not work for every child's learning needs or family's values
• Those against choice policies argue that public funds should not go to private, especially religious, schools
  • Diverting funds to private education undermines the public school system and its mission to serve all students
• School choice is framed by proponents as empowering parents to make decisions about their child's education
• Critics say choice places an undue burden on families to research and evaluate complex school options
  • Not all families have equal access to information and transportation to take advantage of choice

School choice: Equity vs Outcomes

Academic outcomes of choice programs

• Research on the academic effects of school choice programs shows mixed results
  • Some studies find modest gains for students participating in voucher or charter programs compared to peers in traditional public schools
  • Other studies find no significant differences in test scores between choice participants and district school students
  • Results often vary based on the design of the specific choice program and local context
• Challenges in evaluating academic outcomes include student selection effects and the role of family background factors

Impact of choice on segregation and inclusion

• School choice policies have the potential to increase racial and socioeconomic segregation
  • Disadvantaged students may be left behind in low-performing district schools as more affluent families exercise choice options
  • Some choice programs have been shown to increase stratification between schools
• Targeted choice policies can also be used as a tool to promote integration and diversity
  • Magnet schools were originally developed to encourage voluntary desegregation
  • Controlled choice programs consider student demographics in school assignments to ensure diverse enrollments
• Students with disabilities may face particular barriers to inclusion in choice programs
  • Families may have to give up legal protections and specialized services guaranteed in public schools
  • Some choice schools may counsel out or fail to adequately serve students with more significant needs

Equitable access and participation in choice programs

• Low-income and minority families often have lower rates of participation in choice programs compared to advantaged peers
• Barriers to access include lack of transportation, language and information gaps, and complex application processes
  • Navigating choice systems and evaluating school options requires time, resources, and cultural capital
• Targeted support and outreach to disadvantaged communities can increase equitable access (providing free transportation, application assistance, multilingual resources)
• Without such efforts, school choice has the potential to exacerbate inequities if only well-off families can take advantage of options

Funding equity and accountability concerns

• School choice programs can negatively impact funding equity between district and choice schools
  • Funding portability through vouchers or ESAs can divert resources from already underfunded public schools
  • District schools may be left with higher concentrations of high-need students without adequate resources to serve them
• Accountability measures for schools participating in choice programs vary widely
  • Private schools accepting vouchers may not have to administer state tests or report performance data
  • Lack of oversight of academic quality and student civil rights protections is a concern with some privately-operated choice schools
• Balancing autonomy and flexibility for choice schools with the need for accountability for public funds and student outcomes is an ongoing challenge