Creating Strong District School Choice Programs

The Innovations in Education series publications identify concrete, real-world examples of innovations flourishing throughout this great land in six important areas: public school choice, supplemental educational services, charter schools, magnet schools, alternative teacher certification, and school leadership. This first publication starts with what might be the most challenging aspect of No Child Left Behind, but also an area of great opportunity: implementation of the law’s public school choice provisions. For the past two years, some critics have complained that these provisions are impossible to put into place. Others have said that school districts will simply refuse to comply. Yet, this publication shows that superintendents and districts are indeed fulfilling their responsibilities and making public school choice work for their neediest students. It has not been easy, but the experiences of these districts can inform the work of others. By taking lessons from these case studies, districts can avoid starting from scratch. To be sure, none of these districts is doing everything 100 percent right. And all of them had a head start, since they had adopted some form of public school choice before the federal law was passed. Surely, the requirement to provide such choice, while in line with America’s principles and values, can be difficult to implement logistically. As we learn from this publication, a strong public school choice program must be integrated into a district’s overall strategy. Communication to parents, faculty, and the community must be accurate, consistent, and energetic. Transportation and scheduling challenges must be fully addressed. This is no walk in the park. But the message of this publication is loud and clear: it can be done.