All Else Equal: Are Public and Private Schools Different? - Softcover

"[The authors] wade into the voucher debate in 'All Else Equal' in a way that sets them apart. They are reasonable. They lay out the arguments fairly. And then they actually test voucher advocates' theories and describe the results of their research without making grandiose claims....Anyone who cares about public education should read 'All Else Equal.." ---"The New York Times Book Review "The authors contribute to the school reform discussion through pivotal insights and clear and deliberative arguments, offering case studies indicating that privatization and market accountability is not necessarily the solution to improving public education.." -"Library Journal "I can think of no other book that helps us sort through the competing claims about public versus private schools than "All Else Equal. It is well-written and clearly argued, and should be read by anyone who cares about the future of education in the United States." -Michael W. Apple, editor of "State and the Politics of Knowledge "This is an important book. It presents powerful research which sweeps away the commonly-held mythologies about the difference between public and private schools." -Arthur E. Levine, President of Teachers College, Columbia University

Private schools always provide a better education than public schools. Or do they? Inner-city private schools, most of which are Catholic, suffer from the same problems neighboring public schools have including large class sizes, unqualified teachers, outdated curricula, lack of parental involvement and stressful family and community circumstances. Straightforward and authoritative, All Else Equal challenges us to reconsider vital policy decisions and rethink the issues facing our current educational system.