In 1959, France passed the Debré Act, inaugurating massive subsidies for private education. Under this law, the French government subcontracted secular instruction to those private schools that signed contracts. On the whole, the policy has been successful It is popular because it provides parents with school choice and has not increased social stratification. However, the policy led to some problems with financial and political accountability. The French experience suggests that carefully conceived regulations are the key to successful choice policies. It also suggests that choice policies may succeed best in environments in which major equity problems have already been solved.
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