CER News Alerts
School Choice
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CER News Alert
(Washington, DC 9/27/00) Ten years ago, opponents of school choice predicted rampant segregation and the demise of democracy to scare parents and voters alike in keeping the education monopoly in America.
Time has proven those predictions wrong, but school choice opponents continue throwing up a series of new scare tactics to defeat the rising tide of parental demands for school choice - often in the context of the November election.
The Center for Education Reform has released an updated version of Nine Lies About School Choice: Answering the Critics refuting the rhetoric of choice opponents with facts about the reality of improving educational opportunity for all children.
Today more than 74,000 children benefit from school choice (public and private programs) nationwide, and information on the success of these programs is in abundance. "It is clear from the evidence that school choice is equitable, is wanted and it works," said CER President Jeanne Allen. "The case against school choice is unraveling as critics must face the reality and the truth: Choice affords Americans the best chance of getting back to the ideal of the common school, by leveling the playing field and ensuring that families of all colors, socio-economic levels and backgrounds can choose from among the widest range of schools possible. The alternative is to be shunted off to a failing school because of where they live or what they can afford."
CER answers the critics and responds to the nine most popular arguments against school choice in a 19-page document, tackling controversial and often misunderstood issues of accountability and equity in school choice programs.
"Once this issue is debated fairly, without scare tactics and misinformation," noted Allen, "parents might finally realize the power that has been denied them by defenders of the status quo. After all, they know what's best for their children. Nine Lies is for these parents and for advocates of educational opportunity."
Copies of Nine Lies About School Choice: Answering the Critics is available for $5 (free for members) by calling CER at (202) 822-9000 or by ordering online. Full text is also available here on our website. Click here for no-frames version.
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The Center for Education Reform [CER] is a national, independent, non-profit advocacy organization providing support and guidance to individuals, community and civic groups, policymakers and others who are working to bring fundamental reforms to their schools. For additional information on education reform please call CER at (202) 822-9000.