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school choice
Legal structure allowing families and children to select a school other than the one assigned by their district. Schools of choice may be established by private firms or organized groups of families or educators; these groups receive public funding on a per-pupil basis.
See also charter school, magnet school.
Additional information
Advocates of school choice plans argue that it empowers parents to select the best educational option for their children and improves education by introducing competition. Opponents argue that school choice produces or exacerbates inequities as funding for struggling public schools is diverted to already successful public or alternative schools.
Examples and resources
See Education Week’s issue page on “Choice” for a discussion of this controversial topic.
