Independent Women's Forum - Research Areas > School Choice: Charter Schools, Vouchers, Home Schooling, and Women for School Choice

• The Andy Caldwell Show: Peeking Behind the Blue Ribbon
  

  IWF Visiting Fellow Vicki Murray discusses the NCLB Blue-Ribbon Award and how it fails its goal of raising school performances with Andy Caldwell.

• The Andy Caldwell Show: Peeking Behind the Blue Ribbon
  

  IWF Visiting Fellow Vicki Murray discusses the NCLB Blue-Ribbon Award and how it fails its goal of raising school performances with Andy Caldwell.

• The Troy Derengowski Show: School Vouchers and School Choice
  

  Allison Kasic joined The Troy Derengowski Show to discuss school vouchers and school choice in DC. 

• New at IWF
  

  Carrie Lukas has two great articles that are worth checking out today:
   
  Over at National Review Online Carrie looks at the Obama's plans to create "green" jobs.  Some feminists are calling the program unfair because the majority of green jobs would be in male-dominated fields (such as construction).  As Carrie points out, no government jobs program is going to end up being "fair."  Some will be rewarded, and some will be left out.  So, if you truly want to promote "fairness" try focusing on ending government's inappropriate intrusion into so many sectors of our lives. Check out the article here.
   
  Meanwhile, over at the Washington Examiner, Carrie takes a look at education in Washington, D.C.  Obama won 93% of the D.C. vote in November, but would D.C. residents been so excited had they known what an Obama presidency likely means for the popular Washington D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program?  Check out the article here.

• One News Now: Under-performing schools praised for educational quality
  

  Three-hundred schools were recently honored in Washington, DC, as "No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools," but one advocate for school choice says the tribute might have been a bit premature.

  Under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), public school administrators must administer a yearly standardized test to all students in order to show progress as the students advance through the grade levels. If the students fail to show adequate progression, then the school gets put on a list of "failing schools."
   
  Dr. Vicky Murray, a visiting scholar with the Independent Women's Forum, says the so-called Blue Ribbon schools that were recently honored in DC may not be blue-ribbon quality.
   
  "I'm looking at schools that did receive the Blue Ribbon distinction in 2007 and have everything going for them, but students in at least one grade in one subject -- at least a quarter of those students or more -- did not test proficient in a course subject," she points out.
   
  Murray is also surprised that these schools are "low poverty" schools and fears that parents could be misled into thinking that schools that were honored are educating their children. She believes a way to enhance NCLB would be to require more course-level proficiency tests in addition to the already required reading and math tests, adding that the real solution would be to provide parents with an exit strategy from schools that fail to perform.

• D.C. Parents Lose on Schools With Obama Win
  
• The Steve Largent Show: School Vouchers and School Choice
  

  Allison Kasic joined The Steve Largent Show to discuss school choice and school vouchers.

• The Andy Caldwell Show: School Vouchers
  

  Carrie Lukas joined The Andy Caldwell Show to discuss school vouchers under an Obama administration.

• For Our Friends in Arizona
  

  There will be a rally for school choice on Tuesday December 9th at 9:30 a.m. on the steps of the AZ Supreme Court.  More details here.

• The Thom Hartmann Show:If the Obama kids get school choice- why not everyone?
  

  Carrie Lukas joine The Thom Hartmann Show to discuss school choice.

• Position Paper No. 612: More Than a Classroom
  

  Introduction

  While politicians focus on the minority of Americans who face foreclosure or are
  behind in their mortgage payments, it isn't just this small minority who feel
  financially vulnerable and insecure about their financial future.  A poll conducted
  by Gallup in January 2008 found that more than a third of Americans were 
  worried about money "yesterday."1  In June 2006 Public Opinion Strategies found
  that nearly half of Americans worry about the possibility of not having enough
  money to pay bills.2 Even then, before the subprime mortgage crisis made 
  headlines, more than eight in ten Americans described the issue of household debt
  (defined as debt on credit cards, car loans, home mortgages, and payday loans) as a
  problem for the country.  

  Policymaker and media coverage of the increase in foreclosures has focused on
  subprime mortgages and lending practices which have allowed borrowers with
  poor credit ratings to obtain high interest rate loans leaving them at risk of default. 
  In addition to these lending practices, policymakers should consider other factors
  that have contributed to rising home prices and increased financial vulnerability
  among homeowners.

  For example, few policymakers consider how education policy contributes to
  the family budget crunch. Yet parents' ability to choose where their children 
  attend school plays a significant role in a family's financial fortunes.    

  This report examines the role that school assignment policies play in family 
  finances, in particular how families pay a premium to buy housing in districts with
  higher quality public schools.  In short, since where a child attends school is often
  a function of where he lives, families often pursue expensive homes in locations
  that qualify their children for higher quality public schools.  These high housing
  costs strain finances, and encourage both parents to earn income to help pay these
  bills.  With both spouses working, families are more vulnerable to financial 
  hardship since they build their family budgets with the expectation of having two
  incomes.  They also have to find alternative arrangements for their children's care. 
  This has consequences, not only for these individual families but also for 
  communities.    

  School  choice  programs,  that  give  parents an alternative to moving when 
  seeking new educational opportunities for their children, are one way policymakers
  can ease financial pressures on families. Such programs will be of benefit to 
  individual families and their communities.  

• In Case You Missed It
  

  Check out the latest IWF commentaries:

  -Visiting fellow Donna Wiesner Keene looks at the presidential debates
   
  -I take a look at how school choice affects teachers.

• Friday Fun
  

  The Union Label points to this video which combines two of my favorite things:  British comedy and school choice.  Check it out:

• One News Now: Do you support school choice?
  
• The Need for More School Choice
  

  A protest in Chicago has sparked a debate over school funding.  But it should also spark a debate over school choice.  Why do we continue to force kids into failing schools based on their zip code?  Parents deserve more choice and control over where their kids go to school.

  If you agree, check out our Women for School Choice petition.

• Encouraging News on School Choice
  

  Adam S