PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE

WHEREAS, public school choice is being advanced as a major education reform initiative and is the subject of sharply divided debate about its effects on educational quality and equity; and

WHEREAS, both the research and the experience of our affiliates indicate that there are many different policies and plans under the rubric of public school choice and that their quality and effectiveness depend on their design, sensitivity to state and local circumstances, funding and manner of implementation; and

WHEREAS, the AFT, in keeping with its 1986 convention resolution expressing openness to public school choice, has been monitoring and analyzing the arguments and plans associated with public school choice, as summarized by the background paper:

RESOLVED, that the AFT remain open to public school choice and approach such policies and plans on a case-by-case basis; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT's criteria for supporting a particular public school choice plan include maximizing equality of educational opportunity and integration by race and economic and social background, adhering to civil rights guarantees, involving teachers and their unions in the formulation and implementation of the plan, giving each school the authority, time and resources it needs to design distinctive, high-quality programs so that real choices are available and ensuring that parents, especially poor parents, are informed and involved and able to exercise the choices available to them; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT continue to oppose choice plans that include public funding of private schools; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT actively seek equalization of funding among districts to insure each school district the equal chance to attract students; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT assist its affiliates in analyzing and responding to public school choice plans.