Organization; *School Restructuring IDENTIFIERS nrkansas; Colorado; Louisiana; New Mexico;

Before charging blindly into the issues of implementing educational choice programs, states and local districts need to stop and think about direction for efforts to improve and restructure education. Recent research shows that the most successful choice systems are tailored to their community's needs. Among the plans that have been implemented are alternative schools, charter schools, and magnet schools. Variations in the impacts of these programs on students suggest that many factors affect how school choice systems "play out. " When developing policies to implement choice systems, policymakers should consider elements of context (demographics) and organizational traits of the schools involved (school climate). In making decisions about systems of choice, questions to be raised include: What are the goals for education in one's state? and What are the costs related to systems of choice? Examples of legislation on choice in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma are included. (15 references) (EJS) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document