Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2015

Keywords

low-income parents, District if Columbia, private-school choice, public schools, standardized test scores, means-tested programs, public funding

Abstract

Studies indicate that low-income parents participating in the District of Columbia’s private-school choice program prioritize—at least initially—the safety of schools over schools’ academic quality as they transition from public schools. Furthermore, when evaluating their child’s academic progress, parents do not view standardized test scores as a key metric of success.  Most interestingly, these urban parents report that they want to be respected as advocates of their child’s education and will fight hard to keep their child’s privateschool choice program if that program’s future is threatened.  These lessons should be considered when designing and implementing publicly funded, means-tested programs in an effort to break the cycle of poverty among low-income families and disadvantaged communities.

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