U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today announced that two organizations have been awarded more than $600,000 in grant funds for a joint project to help states identify the most effective ways to create and administer school choice programs.

The Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota's Hubert Humphrey Institute and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices will use the grant for a three-year project to help states develop the most effective and efficient ways to create and administer school choice systems that will produce improved student achievement.

"No Child Left Behind gives unprecedented options to parents of children in low-performing schools, including the choice to transfer their child to a better performing public school," Secretary Paige said. "This grant will help ensure that states have the most timely, up-to-date information on school choice and how other states are effectively administering and creating these programs, which will in turn help parents make an informed decision for their child's best interests."

The grant has two goals: to synthesize information about the most effective ways for states to create and administer charter schools and other school choice policies; and to partner with governors and other key state officials to help them develop broad school choice strategies.

The project will identify research-based policies for school choice programs and work with a small group of states to provide technical assistance and other activities to help states develop and implement a plan for school choice in their state.

During the second and third years of the project, the grant partners will select five states to assist in developing a comprehensive school choice strategy. The partners will then help high-level teams from each state improve existing school choice programs or broaden the array of high-quality school choice options available in their state.

No Child Left Behind is the landmark education reform law designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility, giving parents more options and teaching students based on what works.

Under the act's strong accountability provisions, states must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve academic proficiency. In addition, they must produce annual state and school district report cards that inform parents and communities about state and school progress. Schools that do not make adequate progress after two years must provide public school choice; followed by supplemental services, such as free tutoring or after-school assistance; then take corrective actions; and, if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years, make dramatic changes to the way the school is run.

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