Policy Theories of School Choice

In: Social science quarterly, Band 79, Heft 3, S. 523-532

Abstract

Examines policy theories underlying school choice proposals, based on the premise that all public policies should be ground in theories that address the problem, desired outcome, & specific intervention. School choice proponents agree on a theory of the problem; ie, poor results are more likely when school officials experience little pressure to improve performance. However, the desired outcome of better schools varies depending on the meaning of "better" to both parents & school officials. Kenneth Godwin et al's & Mark Schneider et al's underlying theories (both, 1998) are examined to demonstrate how different types of causal analysis & divergent visions of a desired outcome affect policy proposals. Finding that parents have diverse opinions about what is important in schooling has important policy consequences & points a need for further research to compare assumptions about the behavior of key actors. Other gaps in the understanding of theories on which school choice is based are discussed. 20 References. Adapted from the source document.