Education debates in the United States often occur between two poles. On the one hand, we have the libertarian impulse, which valorizes free markets, competition, and parental choice; on the other, we find a visceral defense of the district school. Middle paths, such as the urban district portfolio model, combine school choice and government accountability.
These three visions for public education generate conflicts that are politically charged, and carry high stakes in terms of legitimacy and financial support.
