Reviews "The Market Approach to Education: An Analysis of America's First Voucher Program" (John Witte), which examines the Milwaukee Parent Choice Program (MPCP) and describes school voucher politics that have focused significant national attention on the MPCP since its inception. Suggests that the book understates the inadequacies of…

Analyzes the findings of J. Greene and data from Florida and suggests that the strong effects (significant improvement on test scores in schools threatened by vouchers) noted by Greene may actually be due in large part to sample selection, regression to the mean, and problems related to the aggregation of test score results. (Author/SLD)

The Center for Educational Innovation (CEI), established by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research in 1989, views school choice as the best strategy available to improve public schools on a large scale. CEI's approach to school choice involves giving school professionals the freedom to design innovative and distinctive school programs and…

Re-analyzes data from Florida public schools and offers a different perspective and alternative explanation for the pattern of test score improvements among low scoring schools in Florida. Shows that the most dramatic improvements were achieved by targeting a minimum passing score on the writing test. (SLD)

Herrnstein and Murray's "The Bell Curve" claims that IQ is hereditary and that African Americans consistently score 15 points lower than other racial groups. Coolly received by academics, the book is being warmly embraced by Republican politicians endorsing fiscal austerity and social mean-spiritedness. The book rationalizes a…

Reviews "Politics, Markets and America's Schools" by John Chubb and Terry Moe. Argues that, although a new conceptual framework for public education is needed, a free market system is not the only, nor the best, alternative. Proposes exploring the model of partnership, making education a shared responsibility of home, school, and community. (CJS)