Publisher: Phi Delta Kappan, 83 (2)
Page Numbers: 137-146

School choice is a controversial public education reform -- but not as controversial as it should be. Support for choice remains strong in the face of mounting evidence that long-standing controversies are being decided in favor of the critics of choice. This study of the choice program in the Boulder Valley School District adds to the growing body of research documenting serious flaws in the theory, procedures, and outcomes of school choice. Claims and counterclaims -- about competition, meeting students needs, and equity -- provided the general framework that the authors brought to bear on their study of the Boulder Valley School District's "open enrollment" system.