Values underlying the parental selection of charter schools: A multi-site case analysis

This multi-site case analysis investigated the values underlying the parental selection of charter schools. The conceptual framework of this study was school choice within the public sector and more specifically charter schools. The research design employed in-depth interviews and data analysis. A purposeful sample with random selection was used to select the eighteen parent participants. The principals were serving as principals of the schools at the time of the study. All research questions were answered by the data analysis: How do the values of parents influence their selection of charter schools for their children? Parents were looking for alternatives to traditional public schools. Charter schools gave parents the opportunity to select schools that they believed would match their values. Why do some parents select to send their children to charter schools in lieu of traditional public schools? Charter schools provided smaller class size/smaller school size, more discipline, and diverse student population. Why do parents who have selected to send their children to charter schools believe that these schools do a better job of educating their children than some traditional public schools? Traditional public schools lack many of the things that parents stated would provide a good education for their children. How do race, socioeconomic status, and level of school impact the parental selection of charter schools in lieu of traditional public schools? These differences did not impact the parental selection of charter schools. What do parents consider when they select charter schools for their children? Parents considered what was best for their individual child. The finding of the study revealed that parents selected charter schools based on what they valued: small class size and small school size and the importance of education to the child's future. There were other themes that emerged across and within the three sites which contributed to the study's finding. More research is needed on charter schools because better informed parents will make better selections when exercising choice.