As school choice expands in different states and districts, according to the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, it appears in several different forms: (1) open enrollment policies among traditional public schools, (2) charter schools available to students regardless of their neighborhood (including online charter schools), or (3) school vouchers that families can use to enroll in other districts or private institutions. Each of these school choice systems can be complex and confusing for low-income families, especially when they are contending with challenges ranging from unstable employment and housing to limited transportation.
More on what P-12 choice systems can learn from other policy arenas here.
Image: Thomas B. Fordham Institue, Getty Images/Sensay