TY - JOUR
T1 - Innovation in Education Markets
T2 - Theory and Evidence on the Impact of Competition and Choice in Charter Schools
AU - Lubienski, Christopher
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - Charter schools elevate choice and competition to foster educational innovations. Indeed, these market-style mechanisms are intended to challenge standardized practices associated with district administration of schools. However, a comprehensive review of practices in charter schools indicates that, although some organizational innovations are evident, classroom strategies tend toward the familiar. Drawing on organizational and economic theory, this article considers the forces shaping educational innovation in market-oriented reforms. Although reformers assume that competition and choice necessarily lead to innovations within schools, a more complex examination of competitive institutional environments suggests that mechanisms employed by reformers may actually undercut their intended purposes. The discussion highlights the potential for choice and competition to constrain opportunities for educational innovation and to impose pedagogical and curricular conformity.
AB - Charter schools elevate choice and competition to foster educational innovations. Indeed, these market-style mechanisms are intended to challenge standardized practices associated with district administration of schools. However, a comprehensive review of practices in charter schools indicates that, although some organizational innovations are evident, classroom strategies tend toward the familiar. Drawing on organizational and economic theory, this article considers the forces shaping educational innovation in market-oriented reforms. Although reformers assume that competition and choice necessarily lead to innovations within schools, a more complex examination of competitive institutional environments suggests that mechanisms employed by reformers may actually undercut their intended purposes. The discussion highlights the potential for choice and competition to constrain opportunities for educational innovation and to impose pedagogical and curricular conformity.
KW - Charter schools
KW - Competition
KW - Education policy
KW - School choice
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U2 - 10.3102/00028312040002395
DO - 10.3102/00028312040002395
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:0242428250
VL - 40
SP - 395
EP - 443
JO - American Educational Research Journal
JF - American Educational Research Journal
SN - 0002-8312
IS - 2
ER -