ABSTRACT
Two big and opposing ideas seem likely to continue radicalizing educational policy and practice-decentralization of decision making to citizens and parents, and centralization of decision making to the state and district levels, particularly by aggressive legislatures, state and local boards, and superintendents. Our title exemplifies these two views: The state or district direction of clear goals, best practices, accountability, and strong incentives exemplifies one trend. Representing the other trend are the growing numbers of charter schools, schools with parent governing councils, and private and public scholarships (previously and pejoratively called vouchers), which lodge more authority at the school level and with parents.
