Push and Pull Factors: Parental Satisfaction and Decision-Making in Alabama Charter Schools

• In Event: Innovations and Challenges in School Choice and Educational Equity: A Global Perspective

Abstract

This study explores the experiences and decision-making of parents who choose to enroll their children in Alabama charter schools, with a particular focus on parental satisfaction and the push and pull factors influencing their choices. Utilizing a sequential mixed-methods approach, the research examines differences between parents of students with and without disabilities via a quantitative survey (n=460) and semi-structured focus groups (n=36). The results suggest that there are few significant differences between parents of students with and without disabilities. However, parents overall are satisfied with their child’s school. The findings from this study aim to inform policymakers and educators about the motivations and challenges faced by families in the charter school landscape, particularly in an understudied context like Alabama.

Author

• Natalie Neugebauer Schoettler, Auburn University