School Choice in Massachusetts. Why Parents Choose Choice.
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| Title: | School Choice in Massachusetts. Why Parents Choose Choice. |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Massachusetts State Dept. of Education, Boston. |
| Availability: | Executive Office of Education, One Ashburton Place, McCormack Building, 14th Floor, Boston, MA 02108. |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 63 |
| Publication Date: | 1994 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Evaluative Tests/Questionnaires |
| Descriptors: | Academic Achievement, Educational Quality, Elementary Secondary Education, Free Choice Transfer Programs, Parent Attitudes, Parents, Program Evaluation, School Choice, School Districts, School Safety, State Programs, Surveys, Transportation, Urban Schools |
| Geographic Terms: | Massachusetts |
| Abstract: | Initial studies of school choice in Massachusetts have concentrated on the mechanics of the program, but this report examines why parents choose school choice. A survey of Massachusetts families participating in school choice was completed by 826 families (return rate of 41.8%), representing 987 choice students, or about 23.5% of the estimated school choice population of Massachusetts in the 1993-94 school year. Over 42% of respondents indicated that academics were the most important reasons for choice. Just over 50% of respondents said that a lack of resources in their home districts was one of the reasons for school choice, and about 20% called that the primary reason. Only 15% of the respondents indicated that convenience was the primary reason for arranging a choice transfer. Safety was the most commonly cited nonacademic reason, and it was especially important in urban districts. Parents generally expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the new school, and approximately 71% said that they had seen improvement in their children's academic performances as a result of school choice. Transportation remained the most difficult aspect of the program for many parents in all areas. The report also gives a history of the Massachusetts choice law and a discussion of issues facing the program. Four appendixes present the questionnaire and statistics about participating districts. (Contains one map and five charts.) (SLD) |
| Entry Date: | 1997 |
| Accession Number: | ED402359 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Initial studies of school choice in Massachusetts have concentrated on the mechanics of the program, but this report examines why parents choose school choice. A survey of Massachusetts families participating in school choice was completed by 826 families (return rate of 41.8%), representing 987 choice students, or about 23.5% of the estimated school choice population of Massachusetts in the 1993-94 school year. Over 42% of respondents indicated that academics were the most important reasons for choice. Just over 50% of respondents said that a lack of resources in their home districts was one of the reasons for school choice, and about 20% called that the primary reason. Only 15% of the respondents indicated that convenience was the primary reason for arranging a choice transfer. Safety was the most commonly cited nonacademic reason, and it was especially important in urban districts. Parents generally expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the new school, and approximately 71% said that they had seen improvement in their children's academic performances as a result of school choice. Transportation remained the most difficult aspect of the program for many parents in all areas. The report also gives a history of the Massachusetts choice law and a discussion of issues facing the program. Four appendixes present the questionnaire and statistics about participating districts. (Contains one map and five charts.) (SLD) |
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