Outlines choice options, from no choice (the status quo for most students) to choice including religious schools.
| Five Steps Up to Full School Choice | |||
| Choice Policy | Level of Choice | Result | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choice should include religious schools. | CHOICE INCLUDING RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS | Child attends the public, private, or religious school of his/her choice. | Milwaukee and Cleveland (vouchers), Minnesota (tax credits). |
| Choice should include private schools. | CHOICE INCLUDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS | Child may choose among public and private schools. | Vermont, Maine. |
| School districts should not have a monopoly over the delivery of public education. | CHARTER SCHOOL CHOICE | Child may choose to attend the assigned district school or a public charter school. | Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, California, and 26 other states, plus the District of Columbia. |
| Funding should follow the child. | INTER-DISTRICT CHOICE | Child may choose any public school, either within the home district or outside it. | Minnesota, Massachusetts, plus others. |
| Parents should be allowed to choose schools. | INTRA-DISTRICT CHOICE | Child may choose to attend any school within the home district. | Florida, New York City, plus others, including a limited choice in many individual districts (e.g., Des Plaines District 63 in Illinois). |
| Educators know best. | NO CHOICE | Child must attend assigned district school or pay to attend another school. | New Jersey, Illinois Township High School District 214 plus many large city and suburban school systems. |
George A. Clowes
George Clowes is former Heartland senior fellow addressing education policy. He served as founding managing editor of School Reform News between November 1996 and January 2005.
