School Choice Initiatives

I am pleased to share our new publication, "Navigating centralized admissions: The role of parental preferences in school segregation in Chile," recently published in the International Journal of Educational Research (co-authored with Macarena Kutscher). https://lnkd.in/gAyJ8iTR The question we investigated: Why doesn't equal access lead to equal outcomes in school choice? In 2015, Chile enacted the Ley de Inclusión, eliminating school screening practices—no more entrance exams, parent interviews, or income verification. Every family gained equal access through a centralized, algorithm-based system. Key objective: reduce school segregation. The result: Recent evidence by Kutscher and Urzua found minimal impact on integration. Our paper confirms and extends these findings. We analyzed 133,000+ prekindergarten applications to understand why equal access hasn't translated into more integrated schools. By examining families' rank-ordered school choices using discrete choice models, we uncovered systematic differences in how low-SES families navigate school selection. Key findings: Low-income families systematically choose different schools—not because of barriers, but due to distinct preferences: 🔹 They prioritize safety, climate, and belonging over test scores 🔹 They're significantly less likely to apply to high-SES schools 🔹 They strongly favor schools with fewer violent incidents and lower discrimination 🔹 They avoid previously selective schools, even when entitled to fee waivers 🔹 Distance matters far more—they're much less willing to travel The deeper story: Disadvantaged families seek schools where their children will feel welcomed and safe. They rely on observable signals—student behavior, familiar environments, community connections. These choices reflect legitimate concerns about belonging, but may also reflect information gaps about school quality. What this means for policy: Simply removing barriers isn't enough. Effective centralized choice systems need: ✓ Comprehensive information on both academic quality AND school climate ✓ Clear data on safety, inclusiveness, and well-being ✓ Better platform design—parents often spend only minutes applying ✓ Personalized guidance, not just generic rankings ✓ Explicit explanation of how matching algorithms work The opportunity: Pioneering work by Jishnu Das and colleagues in Pakistan and Chris Neilson and colleagues in Chile demonstrated that targeted information interventions can dramatically improve parental choices. We've replicated these approaches in Haiti, Ecuador, and Peru with similar findings. We're now testing these insights on choice platforms in Recife, Brazil, with promising early results. The welfare gains from improving school access for disadvantaged students are substantial. This research points toward specific design features that could help centralized choice systems deliver on their promise of integration.

Education should be the key to unlocking every child’s potential, not a system that enforces barriers. Every student deserves the chance to succeed, yet many are constrained by outdated zoning restrictions and policies.   Stand Together's partner, 50CAN: The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now, and grantee,yes. every kid., are driving driving change through the No More Lines Coalition, working to eliminate school boundary lines by 2030. This effort aims to dismantle barriers that limit educational opportunities for millions of children. In addition to these efforts, recent policy changes across the country are expanding educational choices: - Florida has eased zoning restrictions for microschools, allowing them to operate in a broader range of spaces. - Indiana has introduced programs enabling students to enroll in out-of-school workforce opportunities. - Virginia has increased grant eligibility for families earning up to 300% of the poverty level. - Kansas has passed legislation allowing students in alternative learning models to join public school sports and extracurricular activities. These developments are significant steps towards making best-fit education accessible to all kids. Learn more about the No More Lines Coalition: https://lnkd.in/eZvKcJQX, and the growing movement behind access to more education models can be taken across the country https://lnkd.in/eXj2iqey. 

For decades, public funds have been used to subsidize private schooling, but recent debates over the practice have been reinvigorated as the scope of these programs has soared. Historically, the majority of this funding was only available to students who were low income, had special needs or attended poorly performing public schools. Over the past three years, that’s shifted: Today, at least 33 states offer private school choice programs, and of those 12 are “universal,” meaning any student, regardless of income or need, can apply for government funding to subsidize private, religious and — in some cases — home schools. Comprehensive analysis of the scale of these initiatives and their implications — both for students and state budgets — has been sparse. But a report released earlier this month by FutureEd, a research think tank based at Georgetown’s School of Public Policy, looks to change that. https://lnkd.in/gWh28v-g

Idaho's $50 million education gamble has parents cheering. But educators are furious—warning it bankrupts schools. Here's how it reshapes education—and why 49 states are watching: Governor Little signed Idaho's first-ever school choice program—giving families up to $5,000 per child (or $7,500 for special needs). The refundable tax credit helps all eligible families. They can design custom education plans with funds for private schools, online programs, textbooks, tutoring, and transportation. Imagine when learning adapts to the child, not the other way around! This puts parents in control of their child's education. Struggling with math? Access specialized tutoring. Have unique talents? Find programs that nurture those gifts. Families can choose environments that match their values and learning styles. For homeschool families, it's especially helpful. After years of financial self-reliance, they'll have resources for quality curriculum, innovative materials, and specialized learning tools. This validates their choice and recognizes their contribution to educational diversity. Private schools across Idaho are preparing for this educational renaissance. Many are developing expansion plans and innovative programs. This healthy competition will drive advancement in all learning environments. When schools must earn their students, quality and innovation naturally accelerate. We must admit that some schools in America (largely low-income) are failing our students. To continue to do nothing fails these kids forever. But programs like this allow states to fund public schools while still creating a chance to do what's right for kids who aren't served well because of their unique needs. This unlocks incredible educational diversity: • Cutting-edge STEM programs • Arts-focused immersive learning • Specialized learning environments • Dynamic online education platforms Every child deserves an education as unique as they are! And when education adapts to them, we'll see more children blossom. But let's talk practicalities: Property taxes could increase if public school funding shifts dramatically. Wisconsin faced tax adjustments after implementing something similar. The full financial impact will emerge over time and we should all keep an eye on it as things develop. The program thoughtfully supports unique learning needs: The $7,500 credit for students with disabilities recognizes their specialized requirements. This transforms options for families seeking programs matched to specific learning styles. It looks like the future is here. This $50 million investment opens new educational possibilities. Will it improve learning outcomes? Create personalized options? Spark innovation? Or will financial hurdles emerge? 49 states are watching as Idaho tests what's possible.

Choosing a school is one of the most significant decisions a parent can make. But what actually drives that choice? Our Education Insights report reveals that parents are increasingly looking beyond academics to find a holistic fit for their family's values. Data from our non-government school parents highlights a strong shift toward intentional living in education: - Morals and values: Parents are 3.5x more likely to prioritise a school's focus on morals. - Character development: 2.2x more likely to value character-building as a deciding factor. - Worldview alignment: 2.1x more likely to seek an environment that mirrors their own perspectives. - Extracurricular opportunities: 2.4x more likely to be influenced by activities outside the classroom. Parents of Gen Alpha are 1.7x more likely than parents of Gen Z to have significantly increased their expectations for school-led wellbeing support over the last five years. Explore the full snapshot of our school communities here: https://lnkd.in/dRKFSGT7 #EducationInsights #SchoolChoice #McCrindle #FutureOfEducation

Educational choice funding has made remarkable progress. 34 states now have some form of funding for families to choose the education option that best meets the needs of their child. That's a win worth celebrating. But funding without seats isn't choice. It's a broken promise. This past year in Florida alone, 41,000 families had access to education choice dollars and couldn't use them because there weren't enough seats. Passing legislation and putting dollars in the ands of families is an important first step. We now need to make sure families can use it. That means removing the barriers that prevent school founders from opening new schools. It means treating supply as seriously as we've treated funding. There's a great piece in today's The Wall Street Journal op-ed section from Schools for America on this challenge (linked in the comments). It highlights #Florida, where Gov. DeSantis recently signed legislation that helps tackle the supply side of school choice. It's worth a read. Two questions for this community: 1. For those building schools, what are the biggest barriers standing in your way right now? 2. For those in the #policy and #advocacy space, now that funding exists in 34 states, what do you see as the next biggest challenges to ensuring school choice works in practice and not just on paper? #schoolchoice #educationfreedom

Texas just became the first state to move from theory to action on school choice vouchers—with a detailed $1B implementation plan led by the Comptroller, yet elected official. Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ideas about who this will be. The plan outlines who will administer it, how families will access $10,500 per student, and what types of education expenses are eligible. But it leaves out one key logistic- How will students get to school? Transportation is not just a side issue—it’s the difference between choice on paper and choice in real life. Families without flexible jobs, cars, or not already in the pipeline(👇) may struggle to take advantage of this program. As more states prepare their own rollouts, I cover the highlights of the plan. ✅ What Texas got right 🛑 What’s still missing 🤔 What every state should be thinking about now The conversation about school choice is far from over—and for many, just beginning. How families get from home to school may be the difference between access in theory and access in practice. https://lnkd.in/gtuqfdBk #SchoolChoice #EducationPolicy #StudentTransportation #FamilyAccess #K12Mobility #TexasEducation #TheRideAhead #GoTogether