Food for Thought: Building a High-Quality School Choice Market

By the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Education Sector

May 5, 2009

Aecf Food Thought Building High Quality School Choice Market cover

Read or Download the Report

20-page PDF

In This Report, You’ll Learn

  • Why access to schools isn’t enough if their quality is lacking.
  • The importance of good data to design and develop quality school options.
  • How information about a community can help identify where education reform dollars should be spent.
  • Why it’s critical that school districts engage both supplier and consumer community members in starting new schools.
  • How a lack of knowledge can lead to poor choices for kids.
  • Why location matters in order for schools to be successful in inner-city, low-income communities.
  • The parallels between public schools and retailers – like banks and grocery stores.

About This Report

Summary

Subsidies that increase the number of school options in low-income communities do not ensure their quality, or guarantee that parents are informed to choose better options for their children’s education. An effective market of school options must improve higher-quality supply and higher-quality demand. This report looks at the benefits of school choice in low-income, urban neighborhoods that demonstrate low educational achievement.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaway

A Successful School Choice Marketplace

A working educational marketplace requires the involvement of school district leaders, community organizations, individual schools and families to determine what school options are needed to meet particular community needs – and where. As well, parents need to be informed about their options in order to make the best decisions for their children’s education.

Findings & Stats

Statements & Quotations