Does School Choice "Work"?
by Frederick M. Hess • Sep 29, 2010 at 9:16 am
Cross-posted from Education Week
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I generally support proposals to expand school vouchers, tuition tax credits, and charter schools. I do so not because I think they are sure to improve test scores or quickly "fix" schooling, but because they're essential for creating unobstructed opportunities for problem-solvers. That said, for reasons I discussed last week in terms of merit pay, I'm skeptical that research can "settle" arguments regarding complex organizational reforms like school choice. I do think research can help inform claims about the wondrous powers or pernicious effects of choice--and help us pursue smarter, more serious market-based reforms.
On that count, last spring, I agreed to tackle the question of "does school choice 'work'?" for National Affairs. My essay, published yesterday, offers my take on what we know and where advocates have gone off the rails in
