School choice

Template:Short description School choice is a term for education options that allow students and families to select alternatives to traditional public schools. It is the subject of fierce debate in various state legislatures across the United States.

The most common type of school choice in the United States, measured both by the number of programs and by the number of participating students, are scholarship tax credit programs. These allow individuals or corporations to receive tax credits toward their state taxes in exchange for donations made to non-profit organizations that grant private school scholarships.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A similar subsidy may be provided by a state through a school voucher program.

Other school choice options include open enrollment laws (which allow students to attend public schools other than their neighborhood school), charter schools, magnet schools, virtual schools, homeschooling, education savings accounts (ESAs), and individual education tax credits or deductions.

History

In the United States

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In 1955, economist Milton Friedman proposed using free market principles in assigning students to schools, which he believed would improve the United States public school system. The typical practice at that time was to assign children to the public school nearest their home. Friedman proposed that parents should be able to receive education funds in the form of school vouchers, which would allow them to choose their children's schools from among public, private, and religious and non-religious options.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Virginia's 1956 Stanley Plan used vouchers to finance white-only private schools known as segregation academies.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Other states followed until the practice was disallowed by Griffin v. County School Board of Prince Edward County (1964).<ref>{{#ifeq:no|no |{{#if:Griffin v. School Board of Prince Edward County

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Milwaukee mayor John Norquist (D) and Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson (R) initiated school vouchers in Milwaukee in 1990.<ref name=":02">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Minnesota was the first state to have a charter school law and the nation's first charter school was City Academy High School, which opened in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1992.<ref name="auto" /> California created its District of Choice program in 1993. It allows California public school district to enroll students residing outside district lines.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1995, Friedman slammed the public school system for its “dismal results: some relatively good government schools in high-income suburbs and communities; very poor government schools in our inner cities.”<ref name=":02" /> In 1996, Friedman and his wife, Rose Friedman, founded the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice (later EdChoice).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="sullivan22">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In Zelman v. Simmons-Harris in 2002, the Supreme Court of the United States declared that school vouchers could be used to pay for education in sectarian schools without violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. As a result, states are free to enact voucher programs that provide funding for any school of the parent's choosing so long as the programs are religiously neutral—neither favoring nor disfavoring religious schools.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2004, Congress enacted the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, which provided scholarships to 2000 low-income students. In 2008, students came from families with an average income of $22,736, approximately 107 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of four.<ref name="voucher222">Template:Cite news</ref>

In Iowa, the Educational Opportunities Act was enacted in 2006, creating tax credits for eligible donors to scholarship-granting organizations (SGO)s. These tax caps were $5 million originally, but in 2007 increased to $7.5 million.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2007 Newark launched alternatives to poorly performing local schools. Governor Chris Christie worked with mayor Cory Booker to expand charter schools there.

By 2009 school choice had become a partisan issue. Democratic support waned, while Republican support continued to broaden. The Democratic-led Congress attempted to phase out the DC program, despite a waiting list of 9,000 low income children.<ref name="voucher222"/> The Obama administration provided funding incentives to states and school districts to increase the number of charter schools.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 2011 Republicans became the majority and renewed the program.<ref name=":02" /> In the 2009 and 2010 elections, school-choice-supporting Republicans gained seven governors’ seats. 12 states expanded school choice in 2011. Newly Republican states enacted half of that year's school-choice legislation.<ref name=":02" />

In 2011 Wisconsin opened the Milwaukee program to all city students and introduced a similar plan in Racine. In 2013 vouchers were made available to qualifying families across Wisconsin, reaching more than 14,500 students in 2022.<ref name=":02" /> Also in 2011 Florida grew special-ed vouchers, simplified the rules that allowed students to transfer out of failing schools, and increased the cap on charter schools. Oklahoma created a tax-credit scholarship program for low-income students. Indiana removed the limit on charter schools, allowed universities to authorize charters, and established vouchers for low- and middle-income students. Arizona created ESAs for special-needs students. Ohio doubled the state’s scholarship program and increased scholarship/tutoring funding for low-income students in Cleveland. Louisiana added scholarships for special-needs students.<ref name=":02" /> A poll found that 60 percent of American voters felt that tax credits support parents whereas 26 percent felt that tax credits support religion.<ref name="FDU">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Arizona Individual Private School Tuition Tax Credit Program<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in 2014 offered $1,053 (individuals), and couples ($2,106).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nearly 24,000 children received scholarships in the 2011–2012 school year. The program started in 1998, reaching over 77,500 taxpayers, providing over $500 million in scholarship money for children at private schools across the state.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Arizona program survived a court challenge, in part, because the program permitted students to use the scholarship money on a range of educational expenses, not just private schools. This distinguished the program from an earlier voucher program that the Arizona Supreme Court had held was unconstitutional because students could only use the voucher at private schools.<ref name="scotus">Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn et al. 987 U.S. 9 (2011)</ref>

Greater Opportunities for Access to Learning is the Georgia program that offers a state income tax credit to donors of scholarships to private schools.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Allen, Greg, "Tax Credit Scholarships Reignite Voucher Debate", NPR All Things Considered, August 15, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-15.</ref> Representative David Casas passed school choice legislation in Georgia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

About 1.8 million children were home educated in 2012.<ref name="nces.ed.gov" /> In 2014 a lawsuit sought to challenge the legality of the Florida voucher program but was dismissed.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2015, 14 cities had 30% or more of their students in charter schools, led by New Orleans, with 93%<ref name="Elliot">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:As of, 47 California school districts and 10,000 students participated in District of Choice, serving five percent of school districts and 0.2 percent of students.<ref name=":0" />

In the 2020 Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue case, the Supreme Court ruled that states could not restrict religious schools from participating in voucher programs simply because the school was run by a religious organization. The Court further ruled in Carson v. Makin that states could not bar parents from participating in a school choice program because they sent their children to a school that provides religious instruction. To do so would violate the Free Exercise Clause.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

By 2021 school choice students numbered 621,000, up from 200,000 in 2011. The next expansion was driven by pandemic-related dissatisfaction with public school policies and curricula. While many European school systems reopened in spring 2020, American public schools generally remained closed until the fall of 2021. For the 2020–2021 school year, public school enrollment fell by 3 percent. Private and charter schools grew an estimated 7 percent. 18 states either initiated school-choice programs or expanded offerings, making 3.6 million American students eligible for school choice and/or homeschool support programs. Several states expanded eligibility to include middle-class children.<ref name=":02" />

Also in Florida directed ~$200 million to increased low-income scholarships, while raising the income cap to $100,000, to reach an estimated 60,000 more students. In June 2021 New Hampshire established ESAs, with an income cap of $79,500. By November, New Hampshire 1,600 students had applied. In 2018–19 in West Virginia, teachers fought a charter expansion, twice launching strikes. In 2020 Republicans won a state legislative supermajority and offered ESAs to students of all incomes.<ref name=":02" />

In 2022 Alabama increased scholarship funding by 50%, to $30B. South Dakota expanded tax-credit scholarships.<ref name=":02" /> As of May 2022, 72% of US school parents favored vouchers, 76% supported ESAs, and 71% favored charter schools in the United States.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Forms

Scholarship tax credits

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Scholarship tax credit programs grant individuals and businesses a full or partial credit toward their taxes for donations made to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs; also called school tuition organizations). SGOs use the donations to create scholarships that allow students to attend private schools or out-of-district public schools. These programs currently exist in fourteen states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia.<ref name="School Choice Programs">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Vouchers

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Vouchers help pay for private school tuition, whether secular or religious.<ref name=":32">Template:Cite news</ref>

Charter schools

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Charter schools are independent public schools that are exempt from many of the regulations governing public schools. These exemptions grant charter schools some autonomy and flexibility with decision-making, such as teacher contracts, hiring, and curriculum. In return, charter schools are subject to stricter accountability on spending and academic performance. Most states and the national capital of Washington, D.C. have charter school laws, though they vary in how charter schools are approved.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite news</ref>

Magnet schools

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Magnet schools are public schools that specialize in science, technology, art or other specific areas. Magnet schools are not open to all children; some require a competitive examination. Magnet schools are an example of open enrollment programs, which refer to that allow families to choose public schools other than the ones they are assigned.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Homeschooling

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Home education or homeschooling is education provided at home, provided primarily by a parent or under direct parental control. Informal home education predates public schools, and formal instruction in the home has at times been popular. As public education grew during the 1900s, homeschooling dropped. Since 2000, the number of children educated at home has increased, particularly in the US. Laws relevant to home education differ: in some states, the parent needs to notify the state that the child is to be educated at home, while in others, at least one parent must be a certified teacher and annual progress reports are reviewed by the state.<ref name="nces.ed.gov">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Inter-district enrollment

File:MA Public High School District Open Enrollment Status by town.png

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Intra-district open enrollment programs allow school choice within a district, while inter-district open enrollment allows families to choose schools outside the district.<ref name=":1" />

To participate in California's District of Choice program, district governing boards declare themselves a District of Choice and set a quota for how many students to accept. School districts cannot discriminate among students, but can limit the number through a lottery system.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Education Savings Accounts

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} ESAs allow parents to receive public funds in a government-authorized savings account. These funds are often distributed in the form of a debit card that can be used to pay for various services, such as private school tuition and fees, online programs, private tutoring, community college costs, higher education services, and other approved learning materials and services. ESAs can pay for a combination of public school courses and private services.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Tax credit/deduction

Some states allow parents to claim a tax credit or deduction to help fund certain educational expenses. These can include private school tuition, textbooks, school supplies and equipment, tutoring, and transportation.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Some other jurisdictions reduce the income tax for parents, so educational expenses can be more economical, which include private school tuition, supplies, computers, books, tutors, and transportation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Online learning

Online learning allows students to work with teachers and their courses over the internet.<ref name=":32"/>

Composites

Course choice programs, public school courses, and special education therapies can be integrated into a student's curriculum, potentially with hybrid funding.<ref name=":32"/>

Debate

Support

Parental influence

School choice gives parents more influence over what students learn (e.g., academics vs trades) and the learning environment (e.g., discipline, uniforms, extra-curriculars).<ref name="Davies">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Gulosino">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Student achievement

Caroline Hoxby suggested that competition among schools increases student achievement.<ref name="Hoxby">Template:Cite journal</ref> Supporters say this would level the playing field by broadening opportunities for low-income students—particularly minorities—to attend high-quality schools that would otherwise be accessible only to higher-income families.<ref name="Davies" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Competition

Voucher supporters argue that choice creates competition between schools, and that failing schools can lose students and close. Competition encourages schools to create innovative programs, become more responsive to parental demands, and increase student achievement.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Competition can help parents influence their child's education. Parents can also punish ineffective schools by transferring their children elsewhere.<ref>Lessard, Claude and Andre Brassard. "Education Governance in Canada, 1990–2003: Trends and Significance" Canadian Perspectives on the Sociology of Education. Ed. Cynthia Levine-Rasky. Don Wells: Oxford University Press, 2009. 255–274.</ref> Traditional public schools also have to compete, although even the least effective are rarely closed.<ref name="Bosetti">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Cost effectiveness

Studies undertaken by the Cato Institute and other American libertarian and conservative think tanks claim that privately run education costs less and produces superior outcomes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Arizona">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="wapolicy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mental health

One study reported that states that adopted charter school laws experienced a decline in adolescent suicides, and that private schooling reduces the likelihood of adults reporting mental health issues.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> School choice supporters claim that it can reduce bullying since families could choose to send their kids to a different school if they are experiencing bullying.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Rights

According to The Organisation Internationale pour le Droit à l'Education et la Liberté d'Enseignement (OIDEL; Template:Langx<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>) the right to education is a human right and parents should be able to choose a school for their children without discrimination on the basis of finances. To advance freedom of education, OIDEL promotes a greater parity between public and private schooling systems.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the United States, support for school choice has been paired with parental rights. For example, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin asserted that he won his 2021 race by emphasizing that parents have the right to make decisions about their children’s education<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and supported school choice.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Housing prices

One study reported that school choice programs in Seoul, South Korea, reduced housing prices in high-performing districts more than in low-performing districts.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Oppose

Profiteering

School choice measures are criticized as encouraging profiteering.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Charter authorization organizations have non-profit status; and contract with related for-profit entities.<ref name="alternet.org">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Charters have been accused of creating units that charge them high rent,<ref name="alternet.org" /><ref name="wtsp.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and that while the facilities are used as schools, they pay no property taxes.<ref name="wtsp.com" />

Constitutionality

Some school choice measures are criticized as violating church-state separation. The constitutionality of state-sponsored school choice laws has been challenged by school board associations, public school districts, teacher unions, associations of school business officials, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and People for the American Way.<ref>The ABC's of School Choice, 2014 Ed., The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, 109.</ref>

Destruction of public system

School choice has been criticized for aiming to privatize schooling.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Racism

School choice policies have been accused of racism, as they came into prominence for encouraging private schooling shortly after the Brown v. Board of Education decision required desegregation only in public schools.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

International overview

Belgium

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The Flemish community of Belgium has a high-performing education system as measured by PISA scores. Most private schools are subject to government targets and inspections. Schools are not allowed to select students via admissions tests, performance, religious background, or gender. The Flemish education system allows choice between teaching styles and competition, while suffering from relatively high socio-economic segregation.<ref>Template:Cite tech report</ref>

Sweden

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Sweden's system of school choice is one of the world's freest, providing public funds for student choice of publicly or privately run school, including religious and for-profit schools.<ref name="The Economist">Template:Cite news</ref> Fifteen years after the 1993 reform, private school enrollment had increased from 1% to 10% of the student population.<ref name="The Economist"/>

Chile

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In Chile, researchers reported that when controlling for student background (parental income and education), the difference in performance between public and private sectors is not significant.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Variation within each sector is greater than that between the two systems.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

See also

• School-choice mechanism: an algorithm for matching pupils to schools in a way that respects the pupils' preferences and the schools' priorities.
• School voucher
• Tax choice