Publications -- Education

Jun 16, 2000

BA #326 – School Choice in San Antonio

The Horizon Program, the most sweeping experiment in school choice ever attempted in the United States, began in 1998 in the Edgewood Independent School District (EISD) in San Antonio, Texas. The Children's Educational Opportunity (CEO) Foundation offered a privately funded full tuition scholarship to any low-income student in the district who wanted to attend another school, private or public. About 90 percent of the 13,500 students in the predominantly Hispanic district are considered economically disadvantaged.

Mar 02, 2000

BA #313 – Expanding Education Savings Accounts

For the third time, Congress may pass a bill to expand educational opportunities for the children of middle- and lower-income families. The Affordable Education Act (S. 1134) being considered by Congress would expand Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in a number of ways, including allowing them to be used for expenses from kindergarten through the 12th grade.

Mar 01, 1999

BA #285 – Teacher Accountability in Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools that operate with a great deal of autonomy, free from many of the regulations of traditional public schools. One difference is that teachers in charter schools generally have less job security - by design. They have no tenure, work under year-to-year contracts and risk dismissal if they fail to contribute to student achievement as judged by the school. In return, however, they usually have more teaching flexibility, less paperwork and participate more fully in decision making. If Arizona's charter school experience is typical, they also often earn more than their public school counterparts.

Sep 04, 1998

BA #279 – The Private School Voucher Movement

While the issue of using tax-funded vouchers to provide school choice is being debated and contested in the courts, an increasing number of privately funded voucher programs across the nation are making it possible for children from low-income families to attend private elementary and secondary schools.

Jul 10, 1998

BA #272 – Are School Vouchers Constitutional?

Many legislators who vote for sweeping government programs without a second thought about their constitutionality suddenly grow concerned when the issue is school vouchers. The moment a dollar of public funds crosses the threshold of a religious school, they contend, it violates "separation of church and state."

May 22, 1998

BA #266 – Answering Objections to School Vouchers in D.C.

President Clinton has vetoed a federally funded voucher bill that would have given about 2,000 scholar ships of up to $3,200 each to children from low-income families in the District of Columbia's troubled public school system.

Apr 30, 1998

BA #265 – Private Vouchers for Educational Choice

While a debate rages over whether parents should be able to use tax money - or tax credits - to choose between public and private schools for their children, the movement to provide school choice to children from low-income families through privately funded vouchers is mushrooming.

Apr 29, 1998

BA #264 – The Voucher Wars

Tax-funded vouchers are allowing some inner-city children in two large cities to escape failing public schools - but not without fierce opposition, primarily from teachers' unions and from those who question the constitutionality of vouchers.

Mar 10, 1998

BA #259 – Choice and Accountability: Texas Leads the Way

Texas has adopted one of the most liberal charter school laws in the country. It also has established one of the first statewide school accountability systems, a model for the nation. Rigorous testing standards that apply to both regular and charter schools give parents the information they need to evaluate their children's schools and compare them with other schools.

Mar 01, 1998

ST #213 – The Tax Credits Program for School Choice

This study proposes the Tax Credits Program for School Choice, offering tax credits to taxpayers who pay tuition for children to attend nongovernment schools.