Rhetoric Versus Reality: What We Know and What We Need to Know About Vouchers and Charter Schools (Paperback)

~ Brian P. Gill (Author) "How can the education of the nation's children be improved?..." (more)
Key Phrases: conventional public schools, education tax subsidies, operated voucher programs, New York, United States, Legislative Audit Bureau (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

How can the education of our nation's children be improved? Vouchers and charter schools aim to improve education by providing families with more choice in the schooling of their children and by decentralizing the provision of educational services. While supporters argue that school choice is essential to rescue children from failing schools, opponents claim that it may destroy America's public education system. The authors undertake an exhaustive and critical view of the evidence on vouchers and charter schools. The book is a useful, unbiased primer for all those interested in this controversial topic.

About the Author

BRIAN P. GILL (Ph.D. Jurisprudence and Social Policy: University of California at Berkeley) is an Associate Policy Analyst in Civil Justice and Education at RAND.

P. Michael Timpane (LL.D., Catholic University) is a Senior Advisor for Education Policy at RAND.

DOMINIC JAMES BREWER (Ph.D. in Labor Economics, Cornell University, May 1994) is the Director of RAND Education in Santa Monica, CA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 265 pages
• Publisher: RAND Corporation (July 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0833027654
• ISBN-13: 978-0833027658
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #766,652 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking if one is willing to think., April 3, 2003

By	Joseph L. Soler II (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This book reviews the evidence about so-called "choice" models of education or "free market" models and their impact on education. In the end the evidence shows nothing, but it doesn't refute anything either. What Gill shows us pretty convincingly is that, at the moment anyway, this is a debate driven by ideology rather than by evidence. No matter on which side one falls, one can interpret the evidence based upon their perspective, since the evidence is inconclusive. Like so many other debates in our society we have to move beyond the "classroom effects" and investigate what the proponents or opponents really have as their agenda. This is an excellent book simply because it is one of the first systemic reviews of the evidence as opposed to the ideological journalism with which we are most often confronted. No matter one's perspective, this book is worth reading, because it will alternately challenge and support one's views.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Covers almost every aspect of this critical issue, May 12, 2002

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Collaboratively written by Brian P. Gill, P. Michael Timpane, Karen E. Ross, and Dominic J. Brewer, Rhetoric Versus Reality: What We Know And What We Need To Know About Vouchers And Charter Schools is a straight-on, analytical, thoroughly serious study on the politically hot issue of school vouchers and charter schools in America today. From examples of voucher and charter systems currently in practice, to their effectiveness on academic achievement and existing empirical evidence on the results of school choice and more, Rhetoric Versus Reality covers almost every aspect of this critical issue in a dispassionate, fact-filled and thorough manner. This is highly recommended reading for parents, educators, and lawmakers wanting to learn more about these complex and heavily debated options for America's school systems.