Participants at an issues clarification working session concerning open enrollment for students with disabilities identified three kinds of issues for districts and students: outcome, implementation, and demographic. Participants expressed concerns in the areas of pupil benefit, parent involvement (or convenience), teacher/administrator job…

Arena models developed by T. Mazzoni relating to policy innovation are applied to the passage of open enrollment legislation in Ohio. The macro arena was relatively inactive, but a shift from the subsystem to the leadership arena occurred, partially validating Mazzoni's revised model. (SLD)

THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE POLICY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE FOR ENFORCING SCHOOL DESEGREGATION GUIDELINES. THE NEW GOAL SET BY THE U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION'S COMPLIANCE SECTION, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, IS TO END THE DUAL SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE SOUTH BY 1969. MANY CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS CONTEND THAT THE NEW DEADLINE IS…

PRESENTED ARE TWO SEPARATE ARTICLES, ONE CRITICIZING AND THE OTHER DEFENDING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE SCHOOL DESEGREGATION PLAN IN THE SOUTH. ACCORDING TO THIS PLAN, PUPILS (OR THEIR PARENTS) MAY CHOOSE THE SCHOOLS THEY WISH TO ATTEND WITHIN A GIVEN DISTRICT. IN THE ARTICLE AGAINST THE PLAN, IT IS ARGUED THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL AND…

Public "schools of choice" refers to a new trend in educational policy that involves various forms of competition and choice. The initiatives of individual states range from authorizing magnet schools to allowing parents to send children to neighboring school districts. What these programs have in common is that parents, as consumers of…

School choice policies allow parents to exercise an active role in selecting the school or educational program their children attend. This report reviews development of school choice policies at the national and state levels. Rationales for school choice programs and key components of these programs are noted. Eight types of school choice programs…

This study analyzes the establishment of public alternative schools and programs from the perspective of school district management. An alternative school or program is defined as one that is full-time, is available to students on a voluntary basis, and is in some way distinctive from the district's standard program. Chapter 1 is introductory.…

This report examines the development of school choice policies as an element of educational reform, describes open enrollment as one form of school choice, outlines other types of school choice programs, describes Minnesota's various forms of educational choice, explores arguments for and against choice, and discusses issues and concerns for…

This paper discusses implications of open enrollment polices for students with disabilities and for districts that gain or lose students with disabilities through transfer. An introductory section examines how open enrollment differs from other "choice" options and offers general arguments for and against open enrollment. The remainder of the…

The expectations of parents of students with disabilities who transferred schools through an open enrollment option were examined in this qualitative study. In-depth interviews were conducted with parents of 18 children and adolescents who transferred their child through Minnesota's open enrollment law. Interviews addressed: the student's history…

This qualitative study examined the impact of open enrollment policies in Minnesota on eight school districts with larger than average transfers of students with disabilities. A series of case studies investigated implementation issues, effects on special education programs, effects on decision making in funding and planning, perceptions and…

State policymakers will want to make clear the intent of a policy on choice when they write their legislative bills. The purpose for the policy will help parents, students, educators, and the general public understand their action and the reasons for the action. This study discusses 11 issues included in legislative bills and gives a brief summary…