Abstract

When considering the politics of school choice, it is important to examine the ramifications of political ideology on market-based school choice research. This chapter points out that a sector of research suggesting positive findings of school choice models is continually conducted and promoted by ideologically driven, neoliberal organizations. To establish a background of understanding, the chapter begins with a synthesis of the pertinent literature on the conceptions and the funding of market-based school choice research. Next, it discusses the role of the production and politics of market-based school choice research for conceptualizing the current educational policy environment. In the third section, the chapter delves into the politics of using market-based school choice research, focusing on the community level. It concludes by discussing the implications of how comingling ideology, methods, and funding informs the public discourse about market-based school choice and fits into the larger conversation about education reform.