Charting the Rise of School Choice across Canadian Provinces: A Policy Index

Abstract

This article introduces and discusses the findings of the Canada School Choice Policy Index (CSCPI). This is the first index of its kind that measures the development of school choice policies across the Canadian provinces from 1980 to 2020 using eight unique indicators of choice. In contrast to other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the CSCPI reveals that although Canada has witnessed an increase in school choice over time, this increase has largely been contained within public education systems rather than in the expansion of private education options. Our findings raise the importance of future research to address growing choice in public education systems across the provinces, in addition to choice in the private sphere.

Not Hidden but Not Visible: Government Funding of Independent Schools in Canada

“…This article set out to make more visible some of the hidden government expenditures that support choice outside the public education system in Canada, drawing on the case of BC. While BC is the leader in Canada in terms of public spending and enrolment in private education—and certainly differs from eastern Canadian provinces that, in part because of their small size, predominantly support a single public education system (Asadolahi et al, 2022a)—we argue that the trends we observe in this province are relevant for other provinces in Canada, especially those with large urban populations, high levels of income inequality, and ethnic and racial diversity. Our findings also have implications for research on the politics of education in Canada's decentralized federation.…”

“…public education system (Asadolahi et al, 2022a)-we argue that the trends we observe in this province are relevant for other provinces in Canada, especially those with large urban populations, high levels of income inequality, and ethnic and racial diversity. Our findings also have implications for research on the politics of education in Canada's decentralized federation.…”

“…The range of education options currently within and outside the public school system varies across Canada's provinces and territories. In addition to private options, such as independent schools and homeschooling—which MacLeod and Hasan (2017: 17) note that all provinces permit to varying degrees of oversight and funding—parents in some provinces can choose from a number of publicly funded and delivered “open enrolment” or “optional attendance” programs that do not require families to reside within a particular school catchment area (Asalodahi et al, 2022a). These include specialty schools or specialized programs within schools focused on arts or computer science and math, French immersion (partially covered by the federal government) (Allison, 2015: 289) and, increasingly, distance and online education.…”

“…Since the 1980s, school choice has proliferated in Canadian education-both within and outside the public system-affording schools greater autonomy and parents significantly more scope to choose where and how to educate their children (Asadolahi et al, 2022a). School choice can encompass a variety of policy instruments-including the most obvious, which are voucher programs for charter or independent schools-but also include open enrolment policies within public education systems that permit students to attend schools outside of their catchment area, selective admission to specialty programs and schools, second-language immersion programs, and homeschooling (Asadolahi et al, 2022b).…”