Schools of choice program offers students to go to the schools of their choice. While this may sound attractive, a new study suggests that this program has no edge than staying in one's home district when it comes to academics.
What is Schools of Choice Program?
According to AAPS District News, the Schools of Choice Program in Michigan was established in 1996. As its name suggests it was designed to support students and families to select the public schools they want to attend to.
Schools districts have the option to accept or not accept the students under the Schools of Choice program. However, all Michigan students under section 105/105C of the Michigan State Aid Act must be allowed to leave their home district should they choose it and when they moved the state aid funding will continue wherever district they deemed to attend.
Schools of Choice No Edge Over Staying At the Home District
A new study led by Joshua Cowen analyzed the records of almost three million Michigan public school students between 2005-2006 and 2012-2013. This is the first study to examine how the schools of choice program affects learning.
However, the result was surprising, Cowen learned that the schools of choice program does not make a big difference when it comes to learning. The study found out that there is "no discernible difference in math or reading test scores between kids who transfer using Schools of Choice and those who remain in their home districts," MLive reported.
According to Cowen if some kids go to great schools and some are not, on average it will be a wash. However, he declined to comment on the value of Michigan's schools of choice program, suggesting that there are many reasons why children transfer aside from learning.
Blake Prewitt was not surprised with the result and agrees that switching schools are not all about academics. "It's rare that someone says my kid isn't doing well so I'm going to move them," she said.
"People move for a myriad reasons. But academics, I believe, isn't a reason. Honestly, a lot of it ends up being demographics (such as socioeconomics and race). There is a part of the populations that feels the grass is greener somewhere else."
Are you surprised with the result? What do you think of the schools of choice program? Share your thoughts below.
