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School Districts as Invasive Actors in a Market School Choice Environment

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Title: School Districts as Invasive Actors in a Market School Choice Environment
Language: English
Authors: David R. Garcia (ORCID 0000-0003-4180-1624), Matthew Hom, Anabel Aportela
Source: Educational Policy. 2026 40(4):558-589.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 32
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Descriptors: School Choice, School Districts, Competition, Elementary Schools, Student Transportation, School Location, Open Enrollment
Geographic Terms: Arizona (Phoenix)
DOI: 10.1177/08959048251382158
ISSN: 0895-9048
1552-3896
Abstract: In the classic school choice market model, school districts are conceived as exerting competitive pressure on each other by improving conditions in the schools and programs within their boundaries. In this article, we examine an invasive action where a school district increased student enrollment by actively bussing students from within another district's boundaries (bussing district), an invasive action that deviates from the classic school choice market model. In our focused analysis of three Phoenix elementary districts using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the bussing district realized a "bump" of 44.7 students on average per school, after controlling for distance and school quality, via transporting students directly from within its neighbor district's boundaries. The findings may portend more aggressive actions that mirror the market behaviors of charter schools as districts face declining student enrollment counts due to the proliferation of market reforms that increase competition.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503920
Database: ERIC
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  Data: School Districts as Invasive Actors in a Market School Choice Environment
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22David+R%2E+Garcia%22">David R. Garcia</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4180-1624">0000-0003-4180-1624</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Matthew+Hom%22">Matthew Hom</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anabel+Aportela%22">Anabel Aportela</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Educational+Policy%22"><i>Educational Policy</i></searchLink>. 2026 40(4):558-589.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: In the classic school choice market model, school districts are conceived as exerting competitive pressure on each other by improving conditions in the schools and programs within their boundaries. In this article, we examine an invasive action where a school district increased student enrollment by actively bussing students from within another district's boundaries (bussing district), an invasive action that deviates from the classic school choice market model. In our focused analysis of three Phoenix elementary districts using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the bussing district realized a "bump" of 44.7 students on average per school, after controlling for distance and school quality, via transporting students directly from within its neighbor district's boundaries. The findings may portend more aggressive actions that mirror the market behaviors of charter schools as districts face declining student enrollment counts due to the proliferation of market reforms that increase competition.
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        Value: 10.1177/08959048251382158
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        StartPage: 558
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: School Choice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Districts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Competition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Transportation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Location
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Open Enrollment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Arizona (Phoenix)
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: School Districts as Invasive Actors in a Market School Choice Environment
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            NameFull: David R. Garcia
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            NameFull: Anabel Aportela
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              Y: 2026
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            – TitleFull: Educational Policy
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