Conditions for Closures: The Role of School Choice Policy in Philadelphia’s Closure Process

• In Event: Roundtable Session 28
  In Roundtable Session: Choice and Organizations

Abstract

For urban districts, the implementation of choice-based policies has expedited movement away from traditional schools, historically attributed to migration from urban centers. This trend has created fiscal stress from loss of revenue and increased cost from inefficiencies related to excess capacity (Ni, 2007; Ni and Arsen, 2011; Bifulco and Reback, 2011). In response to recent financial pressures, officials in urban districts have turned to large-scale closures to address these issues. This paper examines the influence of school choice policies in Philadelphia on the closure of 24 traditional public schools. We find that while choice-enabled options do contribute to a notable decline in enrollment; the persistent movement out of the district over the past decade continues to play a significant role.

Authors

• James Jack, School District of Philadelphia

• John Sludden, Research for Action