A survey was conducted of 82 rural parents of students with disabilities or giftedness on the topic of open enrollment. The survey examined demographic characteristics, sources of information, reasons for transfer, and changes in parental involvement with schools. Most of the rural students with special educational needs who chose to participate…

This paper traces the history of a magnet school which opened in 1975 amid claims that it would serve as a model of high quality integrated education but which, three years later, was widely perceived as an overcrowded, predominantly black institution. The local Board of Education decided to open a magnet school in which new teaching techniques…

A series of instruments designed to elicit a number of cognitive and noncognitive constructs were administered to three groups of ninth-grade students--segregated Negroes, desegregated Negroes, and whites. The Negro students had chosen their school under a freedom-of-choice plan in Kent County, Delaware; i.e., some were going to the local high…

In 1996, many states took action to give parents greater control over the education of their children. Many local school boards adopted initiatives to give parents educational choice and the ability to use vouchers to help pay tuition costs at schools of their choice. Over 200 new charter schools opened in 17 states, and an additional 6 states and…

This report presents an analysis of the school choice movement throughout the United States, and a state-by-state analysis that provides snapshots of each state's progress toward school choice and charter schools. The Children's Scholarship Fund found that 1.25 million low-income parents would take advantage of scholarships that would allow their…

Studied the extent to which the character of four urban schools became more clearly defined in the interest of communicating with parents and of gaining their adherence to a shared vision of the school. Research efforts of the Center on Families, Communities, Schools, and Children's Learning are reported. (SLD)

Major arguments, both pro and con, for applying the "schools of choice" approach to educational improvement in Detroit (Michigan) are described, and the results of a recent public opinion survey are reported. The main argument of proponents of school choice is that it will improve the quality of public education. Opponents of choice do…

Existing choice plans, which allow parents and students to choose among a variety of schools, vary dramatically in size, shape, and purpose. Different types of choice programs have different impacts, especially on low-income and minority group students; and it is not yet clear how school choice programs should be structured to assure that those…

THIS REPORT IS A CHRONOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION GUIDELINES FOR DESEGREGATING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE GUIDELINES WAS AUTHORIZED UNDER TITLE VI OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT. IT IS FELT THAT ANTI-DESEGREGATION PRESSURES FROM SOUTHERN SCHOOL AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS, "FEAR OF…

On June 1, 1970 The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, entered its Memorandum and Order requiring the Houston Independent School District to operate its schools beginning with the 1970-71 school year under an equi-distant zoning plan. The pairings and rezoning as finally ordered were fully…

The Open Enrollment (OE) Program of New York City allows parents of minority group children the option to transfer their children to predominantly white schools. However, the program also includes students who were transferred to such schools through a Board of Education mandate. The objectives of this program are to improve personal competency…

This publication, part of supplementary materials for a National Council for the Social Studies Conference paper described in SO 003 075, characterizes and offers evaluations on the Wingspread Project. A number of school exchange programs for varying age groups of suburban and urban young people from diverse backgrounds emphasizes a sense of…

This monograph explores issues related to school choice by examining available evidence for the success of choice plans. It begins with an overview of the choice movement and then describes several specific plans that illustrate the various plan types. It concludes with an appraisal of how choice will change and shape urban school reform in the…

Two federal statutes govern the provisions for special education in public schools. Briefly describes these laws and some of the challenges to their compliance within the school choice context. Describes and analyzes four case studies representing four types of school choice plans currently in operation. Offers recommendations for policymakers.…

An ongoing study examined implementation and student response to academic career magnet (ACM) programs in New York City high schools. The programs emphasize both college preparation and career education, demonstrating one approach to the current emphasis on integrating academic and vocational education. New York City offers a wide array of magnet…