Understanding School Choice and the Emerging Open Education Marketplace

EDU A358 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Until fairly recently, the vast majority of children attended public schools as determined by their local school districts. Typically, students enrolled in neighborhood schools, although in the aftermath of Brown v. Board of Education, some students were assigned to schools outside their local communities as part of court-ordered desegregation plans.  Starting incrementally in the late 1960s, however, a growing number of states and school districts began opening schools and implementing enrollment systems that allowed parents a greater degree of choice, which has evolved into an increasingly diverse educational marketplace. From magnet schools, to inter- and intra-district public school choice programs, from vouchers to education savings accounts, and from charters to homeschools and micro-schools, almost a third of school-age children are now enrolled in "schools of choice," not to mention those students whose families have relocated to  gain access to better schools. Beginning in 2027, a new federal scholarship tax credit will further expand access to private schools and supplementary educational services.

This course will introduce students to the theoretical and historical roots of school choice, while diving deep into its major forms and exploring their impact and the controversies surrounding them.  In addition to presentations and whole-class discussions, most classes will feature small group exercises and simulations, complemented by nationally recognized practitioners and subject-matter experts as guest speakers. The course will conclude with a workshop on designing open educational systems grounded in equity and focused on student outcomes. As a final capstone project, students will design one of the critical components of such systems, such as a public governance structure, a scholarship granting organization, or a non-profit intermediary.