Jeanne Allen Quotations

We call it the ripple in a great big water.

For a long time, parents did not have more than a modest amount of information about what really school is about. In an era where choice is possible, you need good information.

In theory, it's great. But I'm concerned that repeatedly when we look around the most troubled school districts, there is not a lot of choice being given to kids. The school districts drag their feet.

The 65 percent solution is the equivalent of a chicken in every pot.

What's unique is that the state is trying to create a system with a lot more rigor in its middle schools. It's about trying to give parents good schools for their kids. We underestimate the ability of teenagers and our high school students to know what they like, what they're good at, and what they excel at.

There is a correlation between top-scoring laws and the quality of the charter environment in that state.

D.C. charter schools lead the pack in terms of market share.

It's important to recognize that charter schools are public schools, and that it is better for your tax dollars to be spent on innovative programs that equip children to succeed, rather than always sending money to schools regardless of whether or not they succeed.

There's a backlash in traditionally high-quality suburban school districts from parents who are starting to question, 'Is our math program really the best?' ... Children still fall through the cracks even in traditionally good school districts, and charter schools are all about helping kids get a better education.

They allow schools to fit to kids instead of kids fitting to schools. Mandatory school assignment proves to have detrimental consequences to students.