School choice is not a simple yes-or-no question. It is a reality in nearly every education system around the world, present in 37 of 38 OECD countries, and it takes many different forms. But the conditions under which school choice policies can be successful are poorly understood. The pressing question is not whether choice should exist, but how it can be designed to expand opportunities for families while safeguarding quality, efficiency, and fairness.
From open enrollment in public schools, to charter schools, to vouchers and Education Savings Accounts, school choice is evolving rapidly in the United States as well. That said, many U.S. states have not embraced the standards for transparency, common assessment, and common accountability for schools of choice that are the hallmark of many of the strongest school choice models around the world.
This report maps the landscape of school choice across OECD nations. It explores where systems have succeeded, and where they have stumbled. It examines opportunities and tensions that emerged. It features deep dives into four international systems with robust choice pathways: Australia, Chile, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Each of these systems offers a compelling perspective on the complexities, policy choices, tradeoffs, and unique traditions of school choice. The report ends by looking ahead, anticipating the future to address both today’s challenges and tomorrow’s needs.
About NCEE Monographs
An NCEE Monograph is a deep-dive on a single subject. Concise enough to be digestible, substantial enough to draw insights: rooted in high-quality research, without advocating a point of view.
The purpose is to give policymakers, practitioners, partners, and the public a lens through which to see possibilities, weigh tradeoffs, and make informed decisions. Each monograph seeks to reveal not only what high-performing systems are doing but how they do it, offering practical insight into design, implementation, and lessons learned.
