1. Re-conceptualizing Equity Through Promoting Choice: Findings from Federal Evaluations Examining Four Choice Programs
American Educational Research Association
2004 Annual Meeting
April 12, 2004, San Diego, California

2. Voluntary Public School Choice Program (VPSC)
Robert K. Yin and Dawn Kim
COSMOS Corporation

3. Location of 13 VPSC Grantees
Desert Sands
Arkansas
Florida
Miami-Dade
New Haven
Hillsborough County
Chicago
Rockford
Minneapolis
Monadnock
Albany/Buffalo
Greenburgh
Portland
VPSC

4. Topics and Methods Covered by the National Evaluation
VPSC interventions
— characteristics
— promotion of equity and excellence
— possible models for other sites
Concurrent academic achievement trends
at VPSC and comparison sites
Use of multiple data sources:
— grantee applications
— grantee performance reports
— site visits and school surveys
VPSC

5. Design of the 13 VPSC Interventions
Grade Levels
K-7 or
K-5 K-8 K
Statewide (n=1) 1
Multiple school districts (n=4)
Single, whole districts (n=4)
Portions of districts (n=4)
VPSC

6. Start-up of Student Participation in VPSC Interventions (2002-2003)
Number of Students
Participating in
Arkansas — 415
Desert Sands, CA — 37
Minneapolis, MN — 1,079
Monadnock, NH — 41
New Haven, CT — 501
Rockford, IL — 80
Year Site Will Start
Student Participation
Albany/Buffalo, NY ( )
Chicago, IL ( )
Florida ( )
Greenburgh, NY ( )
Hillsborough, FL ( )
Miami-Dade, FL ( )
Portland, OR ( )
VPSC

7. Augmenting Educational Programs of Choice and Outreach to Parents
Illustrative educational programs:
— Environmental — Math and Science
Studies (K-12) Magnet (K-8)
— International — World Language
Baccalaureate (9-12) Institute (9-12)
— Performing, Visual — Odyssey Program
Arts, Communications (history-themed
Magnet (K-5) program) (K-8)
Public education campaigns
VPSC

8. Role of Parents Parent surveys Parent involvement in VPSC planning
Parent information centers
Parent involvement in school programs or activities
VPSC

9. Variations in Student Assignment (and Selection)
Transfer:
— Transfers from low-performing to high-performing schools
— Defined pools of sending and receiving schools
Open enrollment:
— All schools in district open to all students
— Within schools, all educational programs open to all students
Non-Transfer:
— New programs within existing schools
VPSC

10. Challenges to Implementation
Professional development for teachers
Student transportation
Other choice options at all sites (e.g., magnets, charters, and NCLB Title I choice)
Equity: mainly defined as having more choices
— Initial student orientation efforts
— Tuition (and proportion of student) transfers
VPSC