School Choice: Theory and Evidence

School choice programs have rapidly proliferated as an education reform strategy over the past several decades, and so too has the body of research evaluating such programs. In this review, the authors identify three broad theories used to guide the development of school choice policy, and they evaluate the extent to which the evidence supports those theories. First, the authors explore market theory, asking if choice policies have improved parental freedom, spurred competition among providers, and improved the efficiency of the school system. Next, they evaluate the theory that school choice can improve equity by improving access to high-quality schools and empowering communities. Finally, they examine the empowerment of teachers, asking if teachers working in choice schools experience greater autonomy and use more innovative practices. In brief, the authors find minimal evidence that these three theories hold in practice. They identify remaining gaps in the knowledge base and propose new directions for research.

Keywords: school choice; charter schools; vouchers; open enrollment; neoliberalism