Focus on Understanding School Choice
Fall 2003 Vol. 11 No. 1
School choices: numerous . . . but often unavailable
by Paul Socolar
"School choice" is a hot educational topic and also a phrase with various meanings.
On one level, choice is the commonsense concept of offering educational options - families should not be trapped in a neighborhood school that is not meeting their needs.
On another level "school choice" is a controversial political agenda - a code word for school vouchers or other measures which offer government funding to help families pay for tuition at private or church-run schools.
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For many, the choice is another neighborhood's high school
by Amy Rhodes
Latoya Shuler's only complaint about her experience at Lincoln High School was the travel time.
Most mornings, she was out the door of her West Oak Lane home at 5:30 a.m. in order to catch the three buses that would get her to Lincoln by the time her 7 am "zero" period started.
One of thousands of Philadelphia high school students, most of them African American, who travel to comprehensive high schools outside of their neighborhood, Shuler said the early mornings and long SEPTA trips were worth the effort.
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Five Things to Know: If you stay in a school that is "needing improvement"
by Beandrea Davis
Under the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, the Philadelphia School District is now required to offer the option of transferring into a higher-scoring school to all students enrolled at 196 of the schools that the state has labeled "needing improvement."
But in a district where few schools - public or charter - meet or exceed state standards, not many thriving alternatives really exist.
For the thousands of families who remain in these schools deemed "needing improvement," here are five things to consider.
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Table of Contents
Theme articles
- School choices: numerous . . . but often unavailable by Paul Socolar
- School District of Philadelphia choice timetable
- Public school choice in Philadelphia
- Some push to see choice extend to private schools
- The facts on public school choice in Philadelphia
- Questions to ask when visiting a school
- Where else to go for school information
- The charter school option: making an informed choice by Ros Purnell
- Parents cross district lines, face criminal charges by Laura Sullivan
- Frustrated with system, BAEO parents push for alternatives by Beandrea Davis
- Five Things to Know: If you stay in a school that is "needing improvement" by Beandrea Davis
- How East Harlem hatched a model for public school choice by Laura Sullivan
- For many, the choice is another neighborhood's high school by Amy Rhodes
- Student placement office: helping families navigate transfer maze by Kate Callahan and Donalda Chumney
Guest opinions
- 'No Child Left Behind': the not-so-hidden agenda by Ron Whitehorne
- Real choice should be available for all by Keisha Hegamin
- 'School choice' and other white lies Makani Themba-Nixon
Other news & features
- A new year: initiatives focus on the classroom by Beandrea Davis
- What else is new in the School District - 2003-2004
- Still no education budget, but funding fight continues by Aldustus Jordan
In our opinion
- The school choice mirage
From our readers
- Organizing against library closings
- Students don't have to say Pledge
- Marketing to a captive audience
Eye on special education
- Study says charters have fewer special ed students by Paul Socolar
Activism around the city
- Student Union celebrates new supports for students
- Student-run survey calls for school improvements
- Coalition speaks up on beverage contract
Neighborhood Notebook
- An inclusive magnet program blooms in Frankford by Amy Rhodes
News in brief
- Teacher certification declines in schools here
- Bartram, King launch new military programs
- After years of growth, Edison is smaller this fall
- District begins tackling student vision problems
School snapshot
- George Washington High School
En español
- Cómo el barrio 'East Harlem' desarrolló un modelo para libre selección de escuelas públicas por Laura Sullivan
- Al momento de visitar la escuela: preguntas que puede formular
- 'Que ningún niño se quede atrás'— un mensaje no tan oculto por Ron Whitehorne
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Philly Ed Feed
- Musicians' plea to District: Don't take away our collective soul
- Phil Goldsmith pushes for additional school funding sources
- Nutter, state Republicans to join forces on school funding?
- Round two of PCAPS forums keeps education reform conversation going
- Mastery charter graduates revel in their college choices
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