“Promising Practices” Identified for Implementing Public School Choice

Press Release, U.S. Department of Education
May 24, 2004
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2004/05/05242004.html

Under the “No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB),” parents can opt to send their children to a different school within their school district if their current school consistently falls below the standards set by the federal government. This aspect of NCLB has caused quite an outcry among the educational community, as many believe that the result of this legislation will serve to decimate schools in poor neighborhoods instead of helping them increase their standards.

As a way to quell some of the opposition, and in order to help the education system make a smooth transition to this new policy, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) has released a publication entitled Creating Strong District School Choice Programs. In this publication, the USDOE points out many districts within the nation that have adopted or created working and successful school choice programs.