Charter School
A school formed by members of a community that is funded with public money from a school district, but which operates independently of public schools within the district.
The money that goes to a charter school is money that otherwise would go toward the public school system.
Common Core
(Coming)
Community College
A public college that typically awards degrees for two years of study (Associates Degree). Community colleges also can teach vocations - often those in demand where the school is located.
Pell Grant
A federal subsidy for low-income students to attend college.
Pell Grants formerly were called Basic Educational Opportunity Grants (BEOG).
For more, visit ed.gov/programs/fpg/.
School Choice
Generic term for programs that would allow public money to pay for a child's education at a school other that a public one (which they can attend for free).
One way to provide this money could be through school vouchers.
These programs effectively siphon money from the public school system into private companies.
For more, read this Washington Post story.
School Voucher
Public Money that parents can use to offset the cost of sending their children to a private school, rather than a public one (which they can attend for free).
The money for vouchers typically comes from funds that otherwise would have gone to public schools.
For more, read the NPR story.
Title IX
Part of the 1972 amendment to the Higher Education Act of 1965, it prohibits gender discrimination in publicly funded higher education.
It begins...
"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance..."
Click here to read the text of Title IX.
Click here to read the 1972 Education Amendments (Title IX starts on page 373).