School Choice and Charters

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School choice issues, particularly charter school issues, have been part of public education policy dialogue for some time. They aim to improve overall quality of K-12 education by providing parental choice and allowing free market principles to guide such choices. Over the years, the list of school choice options that have been debated have included open enrollment, tuition tax credits / deductions, vouchers, homeschooling, magnet schools, charter schools, and other variations. A substantial amount of these debates take place in the state legislatures because the programs that enable choice in public education are legislative enactments.

Charter schools have gained attention in recent history and represent particularly unique issues of their own. As the body of research around these semi-autonomous schools grows, where they fit in the larger landscape of education reform continues to be important to state legislators. The documents presented here are to help state lawmakers sort through the information that is available for their policy decisions.  

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