School Choice Hoax

Ronald G. Corwin is professor emeritus of sociology at The Ohio State University. He also served as director of basic research in the U.S. Department of Education, vice president of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and various elected positions in the American Sociological Research Association. Author or co-author of 15 books and two dozen contributed chapters, he also edited a series of books on educational research. His work has appeared in the American Sociological Review and other sociological journals, including Sociology of Education for which he served as an associate editor.E. Joseph Schneider serves as distinguished senior fellow, National Policy Board for Educational Administration, Washington, D.C., and was the deputy executive director of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). He has also served as president of Leadership Development Resources, executive secretary of the National Policy Board for Educational Administration, and the CEO of a Washington-based education association.

The authors have advanced a novel, persuasive argument for a new and unique use of charter schools within school districts in ways that could make them model schools. This is must-reading for school administrators who are grappling with issues presented by disparities between schools in their districts and searching for equitable solutions that will make their districts shine.

• 1 The School Choice Quagmire: Anomalies within the Movement and the Models2 Claims for Charter Schools and School Vouchers: An Assessment3 How to Improve Charter Schools: Clues from Open Enrollment, School-Based Management, The Coalition of Essential Schools, and Small School Initiatives4 Why Choice Schools Should Be Specialized: Charter Schools and Vouchers Schools within a Planned Division of Labor5 Plight of the Poor and Minority Student in an Uncaring Society: Using District-Operated Charter Schools to Improve Poverty Schools6 Conclusions