School Choice Resources
Public School Choice Options
Choosing a School for Your Child
The U.S. Department of Education developed this booklet to help parents take advantage of new choice options for their children. Included is an overview of school choice and strategies to help parents make a well-informed decision on the school their child will attend.
Coalition of Essential Schools (CES)
This website provides information about the CES Network and Essential Schools, including a description of the network’s common principles, data on academic progress, current initiatives, and resources.
Education News Parents Can Use: Charters and School Choice
This U.S. Department of Education broadcast gives an overview of choice options under NCLB. Included are outlines of current efforts to grow the charter schools, which are helping to expand choice options to families across the country.
Equity Assistance Centers
The U.S. Department of Education funds ten regional Equity Assistance Centers throughout the nation. This website reviews each of the centers' work promoting equal educational opportunities by providing assistance to public schools in the areas of race, gender, and national origin.
Florida Department of Education
Floridaschoolchoice.org is part of the Florida Department of Education website and offers helpful links and information to K-12 public school choice, including links to charter schools, virtual schools and supplemental educational services.
Florida School Choice Parent Resource Center
The Florida School Choice Resource Center (FSCPRC) provides resources and assistance to Florida districts that wish to develop or improve existing school choice programs. FSCPRC provides public access, information, and technical assistance to all stakeholders in the school choice community of South Florida and throughout the state. Its vision is to educate parents, educators, and community members about school choice. FSCPRC is managed by Nova Southeastern University.
Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) of the U.S. Department of Education
This program provides grants to districts whose magnet program was implemented under a mandatory (e.g., court-ordered) or federally-approved voluntary desegregation plan.
Magnet Schools of America (MSA)
This website provides support, resources, and advocacy for magnet schools and other schools of choice across the country, including information on MSA conferences, and a choice newsletter.
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools website publishes a variety of online publications related to charter school development, policies, and performance. It also hosts a charter blog and provides a database for comparing charter school policies.
National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA)
The NACSA is a nonprofit membership association for the educational agencies that authorize and oversee charter public schools. This website offers information on NACSA's services for a full range of chartering authorities.
National Career Academy Coalition
This website provides comprehensive information and support for high school-embedded career academies—resources that may prove to be invaluable to any school district considering the implementation of career academies.
No Child Left Behind
Hosted by the U.S. Department of Education, this NCLB site features resources for parents, teachers, education leaders, and community members.
Office of Innovation and Improvement
The OII offers funding for innovative educational practices and coordinates the public school choice and supplemental educational services provisions within No Child Left Behind. Their website features resources, programs and more.
Parent Information and Resource Centers (PIRC)
PIRC are centers that help implement effective parent involvement programs and policies. Their website provides information on how to apply for the PIRC awards and descriptions of current awardees.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
This website from this national organization with state and local offices around the country, offers a range of resources for parents and schools including relevant articles and current information about training opportunities.
Small Schools Workshop
The Small Schools Workshop website provides resources and information for small schools creation, design, and restructuring.
U.S. Department of Education School Choice Resources
Various resources to help schools and districts improve their public school choice programs are available on this website. It includes "Choosing a School for Your Child," a guide to help parents make informed educational choices for their children.
For additional links to resources please visit BuildingChoices.org.