Evaluating the Alignment Between Research on School Information and School Choice Policy Provisions

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 11:45 am - Gold 3
  In Roundtable Session: Governing Innovation and System Change in an Era of Choice

Abstract

When families lack the information needed to make informed decisions, the benefits of school choice policies - for both their children and the broader education system - are likely to be undermined. Researchers have identified the types and sources of school information that parents value when making enrollment decisions. Yet, school choice policy provisions often fail to mirror these insights in the school information they require schools to disseminate. This study uses a two-stage research process, combining a systematic review of studies on school information with a policy scan, to compare empirical findings with current policy provisions. By evaluating the alignment between research and policy, we aim to contribute to collective planning for policy systems that are both innovative and equitable.

Authors

• Jason Saltmarsh, Old Dominion University

• Bryan Mann, University of Kansas

• Jackie Nikiema, Old Dominion University