Rhetoric versus reality what we know and what we need to know about vouchers and charter schools (Rand Education, 2001)
"MR-1118-EDU"--Page 4 of cover. - Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002
Includes bibliographical references (pages 235-266)
Family Choice and the Common School -- - The Movement for Choice in Education -- - Common Features of Voucher and Charter Schools -- - Admission by Choice -- - Market Accountability -- - Autonomous, Nongovernment Operation -- - Public Policy and Private Choice: A Note on the Scope of Our Inquiry -- - Challenging the Common School Model -- - The Common School Model -- - The Challenge -- - "Private" or "Public"? -- - Defining the Relevant Empirical Issues -- - Academic Achievement -- - Choice -- - Access -- - Integration -- - Civic Socialization -- - Values and Knowledge in the School-Choice Debate -- - Summary: Key Policy Questions in Brief -- - Vouchers and Charters in Policy and Practice -- - Policy-Design Dimensions Common to Voucher and Charter Programs -- - Regulatory Dimensions -- - Financing Dimensions -- - Examples of Regulatory and Financing Differences -- - Differences Between Voucher and Charter Programs -- - Public Accountability -- - Religion -- - Participation of Existing Private Schools -- - Funding -- - Education Tax Subsidies -- - Sample Voucher and Charter Policies -- - Sample Voucher Programs -- - Sample Charter Laws -- - Universal-Choice Systems of Autonomous Schools -- - Characteristics of Voucher and Charter Schools -- - Enrollment, School Size, and Pupil-Teacher Ratio -- - Grade-Level Configuration -- - Teachers -- - Program Content -- - Complementary Programs and Resources -- - Academic Achievement -- - Theoretical Arguments -- - Effects on Students in Voucher and Charter Schools -- - Methodological Issues -- - Evidence from Voucher Programs -- - Evidence from Charter Schools
Widespread dissatisfaction with our nation's public education system has led to proposals for a variety of reforms to improve educational outcomes. One highly controversial proposal would provide financial grants, or "vouchers," for use at any public or private school. Another, more politically popular proposal would establish "charter" schools, funded by public money and approved by a public agency but operating outside the traditional system of public-school governance. Both vouchers and charters promote educational choice, market accountability, and schools that are autonomously operated by non-government organizations. This book seeks to identify and articulate the full range of empirical questions that must be answered to fully assess the wisdom of policies that promote either of these alternatives. Eschewing the polemics that characterize both sides of the debate on school choice, the authors provide a comprehensive assessment of what is known about the effects of vouchers and charters in terms of five important outcomes: academic achievement, family choice, equitable access, racial/ethnic integration, and civic socialization. The book discusses the important empirical questions that are as yet unresolved and considers the prospects for answering them in the future. Finally, it explores the details of the design of voucher and charter policies, concluding with recommendations for policymakers who are considering their enactment