The extent to which gifted and talented students participated in Minnesota's Open Enrollment Option was investigated via a survey of 26 gifted students who transferred to nonresident schools and comparison of results with those of a survey of 60 students without special needs. Results indicated that academic and educational concerns were some of…

This document comprises a report on the architectural elements of choice in the desegregation process, a review of the choice process based on Minnesota's experience, and a statement of implications for state policymakers. The following organizational principles of the choice process are discussed: (1) enrollment based on a "first come, first…

This study was commissioned to investigate the special transportation problems in parent-choice school districts and to prepare a handbook to assist transportation supervisors in overcoming these problems. Intended for school districts that have alternative schools, open enrollment plans, magnet schools, or other kinds of parent and student choice…

This report focuses on the experience of integration as perceived in the Portland, Oregon, Suburban Transfer Program, which completed its first year of operation in 1969. The voluntary plan buses 98 black students in grades one to six from inner-city schools to suburban districts. Open-ended, indepth interviews were taped with students, parents,…

School choice advocates made many advances in 1994, and many states seem ready to pass school choice legislation in 1995. This report describes the state of school choice efforts in the individual states. School choice advocates look for action by the Federal Government as Congress discusses ways to help states implement choice, whether by…

This article describes a study of enrollment patterns under the Massachusetts open enrollment law as of fall 1992. Results from 33, districts with 20 or more school-choice transfers, show that families generally enroll children in schools with higher indicators of performance and higher socioeconomic status. (SLD)

This book presents concerns and raises questions about the choice programs being proposed and implemented around the United States. It argues that poorly conceived, hastily enacted choice programs may do more harm than good. The demand for educational choice may result in lost opportunities for students (some groups more than others), weakened…

This report presents a second look at the effects of Minnesota's School District Enrollment Options Program, usually referred to as the Open Enrollment Program. This interdistrict enrollment program allows families and students to apply for enrollment in any school district other than the one in which they reside. This document focuses on the…

A survey was conducted of Minnesota families of students with disabilities (n=60) and without disabilities (n=60), and responses were compared to identify practices related to public school choice. Results indicated that the media were the primary source of information for families of general education students, while principals and teachers were…

This study compared students with learning disabilities who participated in open enrollment in Minnesota with their nondisabled peers, in terms of reasons for transfer, source of information about open enrollment, parent involvement with the school, and demographics. The study involved a survey of 59 families of students with learning disabilities…

This paper responds to the Bush Administration's opposition to including private schools in systems of subsidized choice, and argues that parental choice among public and private schools will promote tolerance and remedy social conflict. In view of President Bush's endorsement of the benign effects of competition, his insistence on an all-public…

The role of community colleges (including technical and junior colleges) and the transfer of students to 4-year institutions are discussed. This issue presents three articles. The first article, "Democracy's Colleges," suggests that community colleges are the most successful institutional innovation in 20th century American higher…

Chapter 8

Originating in the Rand Corporation's evaluation of the voucher demonstration project in the Alum Rock Union School District (California), this study of family choice in schooling focuses on these questions: Are parents motivated and competent to make intelligent choices among competing educational alternatives? What kinds of schools do parents…

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…