Schools, Vouchers, and the American Public

By Terry M. Moe

Book Overview

"

""Moe's new book is not an argument for or against vouchers; it is an analysis of public opinion on vouchers that is likely to be very influential in shaping the movement's future. Moe has written a nuanced and thoughtful treatise that goes beneath the notoriously unreliable single-shot question favored by the media: Do you favor or oppose school vouchers?"" Richard D. Kahlenberg in The Nation ""In a brilliant, definitive analysis of the subject, Terry Moe tells us who does--and does not--like vouchers as well as who says they will use them, if the opportunity arises. He illuminates not only the school choice debate but the nature of public opinion more generally."" Paul E. Peterson, Harvard University ""No book tells us more about how Americans evaluate schools.... This book will be the starting point for anyone interested in any school reform, not just vouchers. A model analysis of public opinion on a public policy."" --Samuel Popkin, University of California-San Diego ""Finally, a book on school vouchers that explores what ordinary Americans want and believe when thoughtfully engaged on the issue."" --Stephen D. Sugarman, University of California

"

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0815758073
• ISBN13: 9780815758075
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
• Length: 468 Pages
• Weight: 1.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.8" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Best Picture Yet of Where Americans Stand on School Reform

"In a timely work, "Schools, Vouchers, and the American Public," Terry Moe considers a number of public-opinion mysteries and largely neglected political topics. A discussion regarding the results of a 1995 survey takes up most of the book. Moe surveyed a nationally representative sample of 4,700 adults, with much greater precision and in greater detail than other pollsters. The differences between Moe's findings and those of other surveys are startling yet intuitively appealing.""The first five chapters pertain to attitudes toward the current educational system, including the strong desire to "go private." The last five chapters explore opinion about vouchers and public-school choice.""The primary message of the first half of the book is that most people think their assigned public school is academically solid, but they also think that the private sector offers even better schooling-better in general or maybe just a particular option that is better for them.""Moe's finding that most parents are reasonably satisfied with the academic side of their assigned public school highlights a great opportunity to promote reforms based on parental choice.""In the second half of the book, Moe briefly examines opinion on public-school choice.""Most of the second half of the book relates to voucher programs. Moe's analysis is the first to consider critical issues such as voucher add-ons and regulation, but the public's limited knowledge of school-choice issues greatly reduces the potential benefits of Moe's journey into these uncharted waters.""Moe's analysis of public opinion challenges parental-choice friend and foe alike. His findings broadly indicate what is possible now and what must be done to change those possibilities. Both choice advocates and opponents will overlook or discount his findings at their peril."-From "The Independent Review," Summer 2002