Dillon, Erin
Researchers: Erin Dillon
University Affiliation: Education Sector
Email: edillon@educationsector.org
Research Question:
Uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping technology of school performance information in California, Texas, and Florida, to determine which factors limit the ability of students to take advantage of interdistrict school choice opportunities.
Published: 0
Journal Name or Institutional Affiliation: Education Sector
Journal Entry: August
Year: 2008
Findings:
- Suburban students are the most likely to benefit from choice in Texas, nearly 18 percent of students in the Texas suburban schools examined could potentially transfer to a higher-performing school within a 20-minute drive.
- City school districts in Texas often have high numbers of lower-performing schools within their district boundaries and few higher-performing options. But these districts also often have higher-performing suburban districts nearby, making interdistrict choice a potentially important outlet for allowing students to attend a higher-performing school.
- In both California and Florida, students enrolled in city schools actually have more choice than students enrolled in suburban schools.
- Across all three states, students in rural and town-based schools saw some of the biggest percentage increases in available choice with the addition of interdistrict choice.
- In Texas city and suburban schools, the percent of students who could potentially transfer to a higher-performing school is highest among White students, lower among African-American students, and lowest among Hispanic students, indicating that minority students in Texas have the least opportunity to take advantage of a public school choice program.
- There are key features that need to be a part of the policy design, including a way to inform parents of their choices, transportation to higher-performing schools, incentives to higher-performing schools to participate, academic supports for students who transfer schools, and targeting participation to those students who can benefit most from attending a higher-performing school.