Self-governing schools, parental choice, and the need to protect the public interest

As policy makers call for the dramatic expansion of school choice and voucher programs across the U.S., it becomes all the more important for educators and advocates to consider lessons learned in countries – such as the Netherlands, New Zealand, and England – that have already gone down this path. Efforts to promote choice and school self-governance have shown clear benefits for individual students and families, but they have had troubling consequences for the broader public.

Duke Scholars

Author Helen F. Ladd Sanford School of Public Policy