Privatizing Educational Choice: Consequences for Parents, Schools, and Public Policy

by Belfield,Clive R.

• ISBN13: 9781594511158
• ISBN10: 1594511152
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2005-06-15
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Controversies over the merits of public and private education have never been more prominent than today. This book evaluates public and private schooling, especially in regard to choices families must make for their children. While choice among publics schools is widely advocated today by families and states, public support for private education - including vouchers, tax credits, charter schools, and private contracting - is politically controversial. The authors accessibly describe what research shows as to the effects - for communities and children - of these approaches. They move beyond school choice to show how other factors - most notably the family - have a strong effect on a child's educational success. The book helps educators and parents better understand the rapidly changing educational environment and the important choices they make in educating the nation's children.

Author Biography

Henry M. Levin is Director of the National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	vii
Acknowledgments	ix
Chapter 1 Education Privatization in Its Many Forms	1	(20)
Introduction	1	(2)
The Broad Framework of Educational Privatization	3	(12)
Our Mission	15	(5)
Note	20	(1)
Chapter 2 The Marketplace in Education	21	(38)
Introduction	21	(2)
Market Reforms in Education	23	(5)
Internal Anatomy of Markets	28	(5)
Education and the Public-Private Nexus	33	(8)
Evidence on Vouchers and Choice	41	(12)
Future Developments	53	(2)
Power of Ideology	55	(2)
Notes	57	(2)
Part I: The Family	59	(58)
Chapter 3 Families as Contractual Partners in Education	61	(18)
Introduction	61	(1)
Families, Schools, and Educational Attainments	62	(6)
Developing a Metaphorical Family Contract	68	(5)
Implementing the Contract	73	(4)
Note	77	(2)
Chapter 4 Modeling School Choice: A Comparison of Public, Private-Independent, Private-Religious, and Home-Schooled Students	79	(14)
Introduction	79	(1)
The Economics of School Choice	80	(3)
Data	83	(1)
Estimation of School Choice	84	(5)
Conclusion	89	(1)
Note	90	(3)
Chapter 5 Home-Schooling	93	(24)
Introduction	93	(1)
The Home-Schooling Movement	94	(9)
A Framework for Evaluating Home-Schooling	103	(9)
The Impact of Home-Schooling on U.S. Education	112	(3)
Notes	115	(2)
Part II: The Private Market	117	(80)
Chapter 6 The Effects of Competition on Educational Outcomes: A Review of U.S. Evidence	119	(26)
Introduction	119	(1)
Identifying the Evidence on Competition	120	(4)
Competition and Academic Outcomes	124	(6)
Competition and Educational Quality	130	(6)
Sensitivity Analysis	136	(1)
Policy Reform and Competition	137	(4)
Conclusion	141	(1)
Notes	141	(4)
Chapter 7 School Choice and the Supply of Private Schooling Places (with Heather Schwartz)	145	(18)
Introduction	145	(1)
The Importance of School Supply in Education Reform	146	(6)
Supply Responsiveness in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program	152	(7)
Conclusion	159	(2)
Notes	161	(2)
Chapter 8 The Potential of For-Profit Schools for Educational Reform	163	(16)
Introduction	163	(1)
Can For-Profit EMOs Be Profitable?	164	(8)
Do EMOs Contribute to Educational Reform?	172	(3)
What Has Been Learnt?	175	(4)
Chapter 9 Postcompulsory Entitlements: Vouchers for Life-Long Learning	179	(18)
Introduction	179	(1)
Vouchers for Postsecondary Education	180	(3)
Evaluating Postcompulsory Entitlements	183	(9)
Can PCEs Work?	192	(2)
Conclusion	194	(1)
Notes	194	(3)
References	197	(16)
Index	213	(12)
About the Authors	225