ERIC Number: EJ788896
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Jan
Pages: 16
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1066-5684
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Race, Social Background, and School Choice Options
Goyette, Kimberly A.
Equity & Excellence in Education, v41 n1 p114-129 Jan 2008
This research contributes to discussions about social inequality in school choices in two ways. First, educational choices include the multitude of options families may consider, including choosing a home in a particular area and home-schooling. Decision-making is considered not at a single point in time, but over children's educational careers. Second, this research explores school choices across school district boundaries to include school choices in suburban and rural, as well as urban districts. I use data from a random sample of families with school-aged children living in the Philadelphia Metropolitan area (including some counties in New Jersey) and other counties throughout Pennsylvania to explore the options that families consider for their children's schooling. The data paint a picture of two constellations of families: those who are white, suburban, and middle-income (who primarily select schools based on their neighborhoods and residences), and those composed of lower-income and urban families of color (who rely more on non-neighborhood school options). The differences between these predispositions toward choice suggest that the expanded school choice policies of urban school districts will have little influence on overall school inequality because of the tendency of white, suburban middle-class families to choose public schools in their relatively privileged, suburban neighborhoods. (Contains 2 tables and 1 note.)
Descriptors: Neighborhood Schools, Family Income, Home Schooling, School Choice, Socioeconomic Influences, Equal Education, Social Influences, Social Bias, Access to Education, Place of Residence, Decision Making, Suburban Schools, Rural Schools, Urban Schools, School Districts, Whites, Racial Differences, Minority Groups, Low Income Groups, Middle Class
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/default.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Pennsylvania
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A