| Linda Renzulli
University of Georgia
School choice whose choice?
Using the SASS 1999-2000 data, I propose to study charter school racial and socio-economic composition. This study addresses student composition in charter schools- racial, and socio-economic status - and the districts in which charter schools develop. I focus my work on charter school enrollment around two particular kinds of theories, push theories and pull theories. First, push mechanisms can explain how districts push or drive students to charter schools. I will argue that white flight is a push theory and can be applied to charter school enrollment. A pull theory, in contrast, suggests that something about the charter school attracts or draws students. I will argue that charter school policies, such as admission criteria and parental involvement requirements, are one way to attract some students and deflect others. I will use path models to determine the relative affects of push and pull mechanisms that increase the likelihood that charter schools will have homogenous student bodies.
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