Are Charters Enough Choice? School Choice and the Future of Catholic Schools

Abstract:     
This contribution to a Notre Dame Law Review symposium on “Law and Educational Innovation” critiques the oft-repeated assertion that private-school-choice programs, such as tuition vouchers or tax credits, are unnecessary because charter schools provide sufficient educational choices. Arguing that policy makers have failed to come to terms with the profound, unfortunate consequences of Catholic schools’ rapid disappearance from urban neighborhoods, the essay builds a case for a shift in education policy that embraces both charter schools and private-school-choice mechanisms.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 27

Keywords: Charter schools, School choice, vouchers, Tuition tax credits, Catholic schools, Achievement gap, Education

JEL Classification: H52, I2

Accepted Paper Series