School Choice Project
School choice is widespread in America — unless you are poor. Affluent families have choice because they can move to different neighborhoods or communities, send their children to private schools, or supplement schooling with tutors and enrichment programs. Lower-income and working-class families, meanwhile, too often are trapped with one option — a school in need of improvement.
The School Choice Project works to increase educational options for all kids. Public charter schools (including online charter schools), private schools and home school are options that increase families’ opportunities to find the right fit for their children. These options are frequently under attack by those who represent the status quo. Cascade offers original research and practical arguments to legislators, citizens and the media to promote policies to enhance quality, freedom and innovation in Oregon’s schools.
The Oregon Education Tax Credit Coalition is one venture of the School Choice Project. It is a coalition of Oregonians who support education tax credits and tax credit funded scholarship programs that would help all families access the schools that best fit their kids. You can learn more at www.OREDTaxCredit.com.
Background
Education reform and school choice have been an important part of Cascade’s mission since it was founded in 1991. Since then, Cascade has made significant progress on the school choice front. Read a summary of Cascade’s past involvement in school choice in Cascade’s School Choice beginnings.
There are many myths surrounding education. How much do Oregon schools really spend per student? Does increased spending improve learning? Do charter schools really work or do they just take the best students? Find out the basic facts in Cascade’s Education Fact Sheet.
Background articles and reports:
- Learn about Oregon’s Charter Schools in Waiting for Choice
- Read about the fiscal impacts of various choice programs:
- Fiscal Impacts of an Oregon Tax Credit Scholarship Program, Eric Fruits, January 2011
- Online Charter Schools increase district Funding per student, Eric Fruits, November 2010
- Education Tax Credits Can Save Oregon Money
Christina Martin, Cascade Policy Institute
March 24, 2009 - Leaving Most Children Behind: Thirty Years of Education Reform at Jefferson
Matt Evans, Cascade Policy Institute
April 2006
See what parents, students and advocates have to say about school choice:
- Finalists from Cascade’s School Choice Video Contest show why they support school choice.
- Watch parents testify about how Oregon’s online charter schools helped their kids get the kind of education that they deserve.
- Dr. Howard Fuller Demands School Choice for Black Parents in North Portland, May 23, 2006
Featured organizations
School Choice Newsletter
To sign up to receive Cascade’s school choice electronic newsletter, please visit oredtaxcredit.com and list your name as a supporter of the ORED Tax Credits, or email Christina@cascadepolicy.org.
