| Charter school: A public school sponsored by a local school board, university, state board of education, or other state governing body and operated by groups of parents, teachers, other individuals, or private organizations. Charter schools are granted more autonomy than district-run public schools and are held accountable for student performance. Charter school laws vary by state. |
| Child-centered funding: An education financing plan that allows a specific dollar amount, representing both operations and capital funding costs, to follow each student to the school chosen by his or her parents. |
| Controlled choice: A program that provides parental choice while promoting racial integration. Generally, parents are allowed to choose a school within a specified zone. Racial quotas regulate student admittance. |
| Dual enrollment: Programs that allow students to enroll in courses at institutions of higher education for secondary and/or postsecondary credit. Depending on state and local policy, the student, the state, or the district pays for the courses. |
| Education savings accounts: Accounts that are largely free from taxation and for used toward K-16 educational expenses. |
| Interdistrict choice: Parental freedom to send students to public schools outside the district of residence. In some states, the policy is voluntary, and districts may or may not participate. In others, interdistrict choice is mandatory, and all districts must allow transfers. |
| Intradistrict choice: Parental freedom to choose from schools within the district of residence. In some states, districts set transfer policies. In others, intradistrict choice is mandatory. |
| Magnet schools: Public schools offering programs to students with particular interests (such as the arts or technology). Often used as a voluntary method to achieve racial balance. |
| Open enrollment: Policy that allows parents to choose from any school in their state. With voluntary open enrollment, the district is not required to offer a choice. With mandatory open enrollment, the district must allow parents this option. |
| Private voucher programs: Scholarship programs that are supported by individuals or corporations. The scholarships are awarded by lottery to applicants for use at private schools. Also known as privately funded school choice. |
| Publicly funded private school choice: Choice programs that include publicly funded scholarships to be applied toward tuition fees at a private or religious school. |
| Public school choice: Systems that allow parents to choose from among different public schools. |
| Scholarships: Certificates of a designated dollar value that are applied toward tuition and/or fees at a public or private school. Also called vouchers, tuition scholarships, or opportunity scholarships. |
| Tax credits and/or deductions: Tax policies that (1) empower parents to claim a credit or deduction against their taxes for approved educational expenses, including private school tuition, books, tutors, or transportation or (2) enable individuals or corporations to receive a tax credit for contributions to tuition scholarship organizations. |
| Tuitioning programs: Programs under which school districts or towns without public schools pay for the cost of sending students to private or public schools in another district or state. Maine and Vermont are the only states that have tuitioning laws. |
| Vouchers: Certificates with a designated dollar value that may be applied toward tuition or fees at a public or private educational institution of choice. Vouchers are similar to the federal government's Pell Grant program, under which a student receives a designated dollar amount in the form of a scholarship to apply toward tuition at a public, private, or religious college or university of choice. |
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