PART 1
Lessons from the voucher schools
Now 15 years old, Milwaukee's school choice program is very much like a teenager - heartwarmingly good at times, disturbingly bad at others, and the subject of myths, misunderstandings and ignorance, even by the adults entrusted with its welfare. Go to Story | Photos

Related Coverage:
• The good: Some positive impressions
• The bad: Some questionable scenes
• No visits: 9 schools deny requests for classroom visits
• Research: Voucher performance information is scarce
• Elsewhere: Few states offer vouchers
• Glossary: Choice terms to know
• Timeline: Key events, 1989-2005
• Graphic: Enrollment, schools - year-by-year
• At a glance: Some facts about choice schools

PART 2
A question of accountability
The rules of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program make it easy to open a school. Supporters say this freedom is a key to improving education in Milwaukee; critics say it leads to bad education and wasted public money. Go to Story | Photos

Related Coverage:
• Success story: How a church built a thriving school
• Graphic: Breakdown of choice schools

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PART 3
Gut instinct guides parents' choices
Parents selecting choice schools for their children sometimes are not making selections based on extensive research. Their choices are based on gut feelings and word-of-mouth. Or, maybe something as simple as a uniform requirement. Go to Story | Photos

Related Coverage:
• New school, new attitude: Once a struggling student, she now soars

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PART 4
Religious schools are a top choice
Almost two-thirds of students who attended private schools in the city this year did so with vouchers, and most of the schools are religious. Is it a public good that religious education is so widely available at no cost to low-income families? Go to Story | Photos

Related Coverage:
• Graphic: Long slide in private school enrollment

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PART 5
Big 'C' or little 'c' Catholic?
This school year, 56% of Milwaukee's Catholic elementary school students participate in the voucher program. As a result, the schools are serving more poor students, more minorities and more non-Catholics than in other cities. Go to Story | Photos

Related Coverage:
• Special Needs: Choice is limited when it comes to special education

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PART 6
It's all about relationships
Marcia Spector and Seeds of Health operate five schools, which will grow to six this fall. By then, more than 900 students are expected to be part of the "district." Together, they have more students than almost 200 school districts in Wisconsin. Go to Story | Photos

Related Coverage:
• Amit Ray: His dealings show ties that bind some choice schools
• Photo Story: Uniforms by choice | Photos

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PART 7
Given the same choices, results can vary
When lawmakers made the case for creating the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, they pointed to schools like Bruce Guadalupe, Harambee and Urban Day. But since then, the paths of the three schools have diverged dramatically. Go to Story | Photos

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More ...
• Directory: Detailed information on each of the 130 schools scheduled to be part of Milwaukee Parental Choice Program in 2005.
• The Reporters: Meet the Journal Sentinel reporters who researched and wrote the series.
• Online chat transcript: Repoters Alan Borsuk and Sarah Carr answer your questions in a JS Online chat.