The Role of a Policy Analyst and School Choice: A Study and the History and Availability of Educational Choices for Our Youth
The role of a policy analyst in the General Assembly, is to look at the many aspects of policies, research best practices and advise solutions that would serve the citizen taxpayers of Georgia in the most efficient and economical way possible. The job of an analyst requires the ability to understand current policies and use a fact-based approach when producing policy briefs and legislative findings. It was with this in mind that the decision to focus on the topic of school choice was made. School choice is a relatively new concept as far as the practical application nationwide. Since its’ inception in Milwaukee, the concept has expanded to include private school vouchers, charter schools and tax credits for school choice scholarships. Over 40 states are debating the issue of school choice and many of those have one or more school choice options in place. Many studies on the subject have shown that school choice is gaining popularity in many states, regardless of their leanings politically, to the right or left. For the many other states where school choice has not been implemented in policy, it would appear that further studies over longer periods of time will need to occur in order for school choice to prove its’ merits, as many proponents suggest. Only time and further research will validate the position the critics or proponents take on the issue of school choice.
Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
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