ABSTRACT
The charter school movement's ability to capture the imagination and support of a broad and influential spectrum of American society —from grassroots community groups to Fortune 500 executives. Although the variety of school choice plans makes summarization difficult, a few major types can be identified. Some choice plans partially restrict the educational choices families can make, while others have virtually no restrictions. The school choice movement has its roots in educational reform theory and practice that dates to the early 1970s. In fact, many school districts and educational reform groups saw choice as a way to increase parental confidence and involvement in the system; many parents saw public school choice as a policy that would enable them to play a more active role in their children's education. City Academy opened its doors in September 1992 to Thirty-five middie and high school students who had chosen to join this fledgling experiment in educational reform.
