School choice in New York

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School choice
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School choice is a term that refers to programs offering alternatives to assigned local public school options. Public school choice options include open enrollment policies, magnet schools, and charter schools. Other options include school vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and education savings accounts (ESAs).[1][2]

HIGHLIGHTS
  • According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 257 total charter schools in New York in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 125,800 students.
  • In New York, there were 452,380 students enrolled in 1,870 private schools in fall 2013, accounting for roughly 14.71 percent of the state's total school-age population.
  • According to the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, as of June 2016, New York provided no financial assistance (either in the form of vouchers or tax credits) to parents wishing to send their children to private schools instead of public schools.

    • Proponents argue that school choice programs improve educational outcomes by expanding opportunity and access for historically disadvantaged students. In addition, advocates claim that school choice programs empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition. Critics contend that these programs divert funds from traditional public schools, thereby generating unequal outcomes for students. In addition, some critics argue that school voucher programs wrongly direct tax dollars to religious organizations, which operate many private schools.

    Educational choice options

    See also: Number of schools by school type in the United States

    Charter schools

    See also: Charter schools in New York

    Charter schools are public schools operated independently of the public school system, either by nonprofit or for-profit organizations. Although they are publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are typically admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Generally speaking, charter schools receive a percentage of per-pupil funds from state and local boards of education for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, they do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants.[3][4][5]

    According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 257 total charter schools in New York in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 125,800 students. Overall, charter school students accounted for 4.66 percent of total public school enrollment in New York in 2015.[6]

    Charter schools, 2015-2016
    State Total number of charter schools Estimated enrollment Percentage of total public school enrollment
    New York 257 125,800 4.66%
    Massachusetts 81 40,300 4.28%
    New Jersey 89 44,600 3.29%
    Pennsylvania 175 141,200 8.10%
    United States total 6,824 2,930,600 5.85%
    Note: The percentages in the column labeled "Percentage of total public school enrollment" were calculated by taking the estimated number of charter school students in a given state and dividing by the total estimated number of public school students in that state in 2015. Total public school enrollment estimates came from the National Center for Education Statistics.
    Source: National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement," February 3, 2016

    Magnet schools

    See also: Magnet school participation statistics

    Magnet schools, or theme-based schools, are public schools of choice that utilize specialized subject areas or innovative learning approaches to attract students from more diverse backgrounds. Magnet schools were first formed to desegregate public schools through choice rather than force. Magnet schools can reach beyond the boundaries of school districts, but they are still managed and funded publicly by local districts even though they are centered around specialized themes and subjects.[7][8]

    According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 3,254 magnet schools in the United States in the 2013-2014 school year, 103 of which were in New York. According to Public School Review, those 103 magnet schools served 70,501 students in New York, 76 percent of whom were racial/ethnic minorities. The average student-teacher ratio in New York's magnet schools was 15:1. The table below presents this information for New York and surrounding states.[9][10]

    Magnet schools, 2013-2014
    State Number of magnet schools Total enrollment Minority enrollment percentage Student-teacher ratio
    New York 103 70,501 76% 15:1
    Massachusetts N/A N/A N/A N/A
    New Jersey N/A N/A N/A N/A
    Pennsylvania 66 N/A N/A N/A
    United States total 3,254 2,549,825 N/A N/A
    Note: "N/A" indicates that information was not available, either because the state does not have magnet schools or because the data were not reported.
    Source: Public School Review, "Find Public Schools," accessed May 24, 2016

    Open enrollment policies

    According to the Education Commission of the States, there are two primary types of open enrollment policies:[11]

    1. Under intra-district enrollment policies, students may transfer to schools within their home districts.
    2. Under inter-district enrollment policies, students may transfer to schools outside of their home districts.

    Open enrollment policies may be either mandatory or voluntary. Under mandatory programs, districts must allow for open enrollment. Under voluntary programs, districts may choose whether to allow for open enrollment.[11]

    New York enforces a voluntary inter-district open enrollment policy.[11]

    Private schools

    Private schools are operated by private organizations as opposed to government entities. Private schools typically rely on tuition, private grants, and donations for funding. Because private schools are not operated or funded directly by government entities, they may operate under different personnel and curricular standards. Private schools are often associated with religious institutions. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 5,395,740 students enrolled in 33,620 private schools nationwide in fall 2013. This accounted for approximately 10 percent of the total school-age population.[12][13]

    In New York, there were 452,380 students enrolled in 1,870 private schools in fall 2013, accounting for roughly 14.71 percent of the state's total school-age population. The table below presents this information for New York and surrounding states.

    Private schools, fall 2013
    State Number of private schools Enrollment Enrollment as a percentage of total school-age population
    New York 1,870 452,380 14.71%
    Massachusetts 800 134,560 13.04%
    New Jersey 1,270 211,150 14.17%
    Pennsylvania 2,320 253,800 12.68%
    United States total 33,620 5,395,740 10.04%
    Note: The column labeled "Enrollment as a percentage of total school-age population" was calculated by taking the total private school enrollment in a given state and dividing by the total school-age population of that state. Figures for total school-age population were obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics.
    Sources: National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 101.40. Estimated total and school-age resident populations, by state: Selected years, 1970 through 2014," accessed May 24, 2016
    National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 205.80. Private elementary and secondary schools, enrollment, teachers, and high school graduates, by state: Selected years, 2003 through 2013," accessed May 24, 2016

    Homeschooling

    According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were approximately 1.7 million homeschooled students in the United States as of 2012. This accounted for roughly 3.4 percent of the total school-age population.[14][15]

    According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, a parent or guardian must do the following in order to homeschool a child in New York:[16]

    1. File an annual notice of intent to homeschool with the local school superintendent
    2. File an Individualized Home Instruction Plan annually with the local school superintendent
    3. Maintain attendance records that demonstrate compliance with day, hour, and subject requirements (further details about these requirements are available here)
    4. File quarterly progress reports with the local school superintendent
    5. Conduct annual evaluations of the child's progress (evaluations may take the form of standardized tests or written assessments overseen by certified teachers)

    Online learning

    See also: Blended learning

    According to the Evergreen Education Group, 24 states operated state virtual schools in the 2014-2015 school year. State virtual schools are "operational intermediate supplier organizations that provide online learning programs to schools statewide." State virtual schools are created by legislative or state agency action and are "usually funded in part or entirely by a state appropriation or grant." As of the 2014-2015 school year, New York did not have a state virtual school.[17]

    According to the Center for Education Reform, New York was home to no virtual charter schools as of May 2016.[18]

    Financial assistance

    According to the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, as of June 2016, New York provided no financial assistance (either in the form of vouchers or tax credits) to parents wishing to send their children to private schools instead of public schools.[19]

    Historical events

    2020

    Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
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    Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
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    Education on the ballot
    See also: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

    On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs. The case related to Article X, Section 6 of the Montana Constitution, also known as Montana’s Blaine Amendment.[20]

    In its 5-4 opinion, the court held that the application of Article X, Section 6 violated the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution. The majority held Article X, Section 6 barred religious schools and parents who wished to send their children to those schools from receiving public benefits because of the religious character of the school.[21]

    The case addressed the tension between the free exercise and Establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution—where one guarantees the right of individuals' free exercise of religion and the other guarantees that the state won't establish a religion—and the intersections of state constitutions with state law and with the U.S. Constitution.

    New York is one of the states with a Blaine Amendment.


    Studies and reports

    Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice

    Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice

    In January 2016, the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice released a report ranking school choice programs across the nation by participation. No New York programs were ranked in the report. For the full report, visit this website.[22]

    That same month, the Friedman Foundation released the 2016 edition of "The ABCs of School Choice," a comprehensive report detailing and commenting upon every school choice program in the nation. To access the full report, click here.

    School choice ballot measures

    See also: School choice on the ballot and List of New York ballot measures

    Ballotpedia has tracked no statewide ballot measures relating to school choice in New York.

    School choice legislation

    The following is a list of recent charter school bills that have been introduced in or passed by the New York state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

    Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms New York education choice. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    School choice in New York - Google News

    See also

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    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "School Choice and Charters," accessed June 18, 2014
    2. ↑ Friedman Foundation for School Choice, "What is School Choice?" accessed June 18, 2014
    3. ↑ National Charter School Resource Center, "Understanding Charter Schools," accessed April 29, 2104
    4. ↑ Uncommon Schools, "Frequently Asked Questions About Public, Charter Schools," accessed April 30, 2014
    5. ↑ The Center for Education Reform, "Just the FAQs--Charter Schools," accessed April 30, 2014
    6. ↑ National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, "A Closer Look at the Charter School Movement," February 3, 2016
    7. ↑ Public School Review, "What is a magnet school?" accessed December 9, 2014
    8. ↑ Magnet Schools of America, "What are magnet schools?" accessed December 9, 2014
    9. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 3. Number of operating public elementary and secondary schools, by school type, charter, magnet, Title I, and Title I schoolwide status, and state or jurisdiction: School year 2013–14," accessed May 24, 2016
    10. ↑ Public School Review, "Find Public Schools," accessed May 24, 2016
    11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Education Commission of the States, "Open Enrollment 50-State Report," updated November 2015
    12. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 205.80. Private elementary and secondary schools, enrollment, teachers, and high school graduates, by state: Selected years, 2003 through 2013," accessed May 24, 2016
    13. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 101.40. Estimated total and school-age resident populations, by state: Selected years, 1970 through 2014," accessed May 24, 2016
    14. ↑ Coalition for Responsible Home Education, "Homeschooling Numbers," accessed May 25, 2016
    15. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Table 206.10. Number and percentage of homeschooled students ages 5 through 17 with a grade equivalent of kindergarten through 12th grade, by selected child, parent, and household characteristics: 2003, 2007, and 2012," accessed May 25, 2016
    16. ↑ Home School Legal Defense Association, "New York," accessed May 25, 2016
    17. ↑ Evergreen Education Group, "Keeping Pace with K-12 Digital Learning, 2015," accessed May 25, 2016
    18. ↑ Center for Education Reform, "Find a Charter School," accessed June 1, 2016
    19. ↑ Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, "New York," accessed June 1, 2016
    20. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue: "Petition for a writ of certiorari," accessed July 3, 2019
    21. ↑ Supreme Court of the United States, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, decided June 30, 2020
    22. ↑ Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, "America's School Choice Programs Ranked by Participation, 2016 Edition," January 27, 2016
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