The Magnet School

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that proponents of school choice, such as magnet schools, argue that allowing parents to choose their child's school will result in market-like competition and the decline of bureaucratic structures, thus compelling schools to compete and improve. The author points out that the admissions process is usually by lottery or "first-come, first-served" but about one-third of all magnet programs use a selective admissions policy, usually involving either a minimum test score requirement or, in a performing arts magnet, an audition. The paper states that a magnet schools are the best education choice because smaller class size allows teachers to provide their students with more attention, and these schools have more career oriented programs due to the generosity of contributions from business and well-organized Parent-Teacher-Student Associations.

From the Paper:

"If magnet schools fail to respond to parental dissatisfaction, parents may enroll their children elsewhere. Other researchers have found that magnet schools provide more opportunities for parental involvement and effective communication between parent and teacher. However, larger-scale studies using national studies and data contradict these findings, finding that magnet and non-magnet schools use similar curriculum and modes of instruction. Magnet schools afford teachers more involvement in decision making, as choice advocates predict."

More papers on The Magnet School:

• Research Paper # 97870 : "The Public School Choice Debate"
• Essay # 2752 : "Magnet Schools"
• Essay # 47766 : "Magnet Schools"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: