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1 1 (February 29, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goveolx0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Con gressionol Research Service Inlorming the IegisIative debate since 1914 Updated February 29, 2024 Overview of Public and Private School Choice Options School choice generally refers to the opportunity for parents to select an elementary or secondary school for their child that differs from the assigned school that the child would otherwise attend based on where the family lives. School choice is often divided into two major categories-public school choice and private school choice. Both types of school choice programs have proponents and opponents, and both have garnered substantial congressional interest. This In Focus provides an overview of the various types of public and private school choice options that exist and, when applicable, highlights federal programs that directly support choice. It also discusses homeschooling as a school choice option. The In Focus does not evaluate the pros and cons of each type of school choice option or the myriad studies supporting or criticizing them. Current School Enrollmnent Patterns Based on the most recent data available, enrollment in public and private elementary and secondary schools and homeschools changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, public school enrollment was 50.8 million in fall 2019. It fell by 1.4 million (2.8%) to 49.4 million in fall 2020 and remained flat in fall 2021. In fall 2022, there were 49.6 million children enrolled in public schools. In fall 2019, the number of children enrolled in private schools was 5.5 million and remained flat in fall 2021. In 2019, 2.8% of students were homeschooled. According to Census survey data, this increased to about 5.4% in spring 2020 and to 11.1% in fall 2020. Public School Choice Options Public school choice options include intradistrict public school choice, interdistrict public school choice, charter schools, and magnet schools. Availability of these options varies across different localities. Families, subject to financial considerations, also may be able to choose to live in areas where they want their children to attend schools. Intradistrict and Interdistrict Public School Choice Many states operate intradistrict and/or interdistrict public school choice programs, which are often referred to as open enrollment policies. Under the intradistrict programs, students may choose among some or all of the public schools in a given local educational agency (LEA). Under the interdistrict programs, students may choose among public schools in different LEAs. Intradistrict and interdistrict public school choice programs differ among states based on many factors, including whether the programs are voluntary or mandated by the state, whether transportation to the new school is provided, and whether the state sets priorities for districts to follow in admitting students (e.g., sibling preference; preference to students attending low-performing schools; preference to increase racial, ethnic, or economic diversity). According to a 2022 comparison of state intradistrict and interdistrict polices, 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have at least one open enrollment policy-27 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have intradistrict enrollment policies, and 43 states have interdistrict enrollment policies. Depending on the state, the policies may be mandatory, voluntary, or both, for LEAs. For example, a state might require mandatory intradistrict choice in certain LEAs (e.g., choice for students in low- performing schools or LEAs) but allow it to be voluntary in other LEAs. Alabama, Alaska, Maryland, and North Carolina are the only states that do not have an explicit open enrollment policy. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides funding for transportation to support intradistrict school choice. This is one option for serving students attending public schools that have been identified under ESEA educational accountability requirements as being underperforming schools. Charter Schools Charter schools are public school options, and thus do not charge tuition. Each state's charter school law asserts the requirements for establishing and operating a charter school in the state, including which entities may serve as charter school authorizers. Students have to apply to a charter school to gain admission. Charter schools often use lotteries to select new students if they have more applicants than available slots. The schools operate under the terms of a charter agreement that is established between the charter school and its authorizer (e.g., LEA, state-level authority, institution of higher education). Currently, 45 states and the District of Columbia have charter school laws. (The states without charter school laws are Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont.) As of the 2021-2022 school year, 7,847 charter schools were in operation, serving 3.7 million students. The Charter Schools Program authorized by the ESEA provides funds to eligible entities to support the development, implementation, and replication of high- quality charter schools and assist with facilities financing. Magnet Schools Magnet schools generally operate as a specialized form of intradistrict school choice. They are designed to attract a more diverse student body from across an LEA. To achieve this, magnet schools offer programs (e.g., engineering, arts) that will be attractive to students who live outside of the traditional boundaries of the magnet school. By attracting students from across the LEA, it may be possible to alter the racial composition of a school. During the 2021-2022 school year, there were 3,015 magnet schools in operation, serving 2.2 million students.

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