School Choice and Social Justice develops a liberal egalitarian theory of social justice in education. Looking at the most recent empirical evidence, it evaluates the justice of existing choice schemes, and proposes a series of social justice-based school choice reforms. - ;School choice, the leading educational reform proposal in the English-speaking world today, evokes extreme responsesDSits defenders present it as the saviour; its opponents as the deathnell of a fair educational system. Disagreement and vagueness about what constitutes social justice in education muddies the debate. The author provides a new theory of justice for education, arguing that justice requires that all children have a real opportunity to become autonomous persons, and thatthe state use a criterion of educational equality for deploying educational resources. Through systematic presentation of empirical evidence, the author argues that existing schemes do not fare well against the criterion of social justice, yet this need not impugn school choice. Brighouse offers aschool choice proposal that could implement social justice and explains why other essential educational reforms can be compatible with choice. - ;Powerful, compelling book. - British Journal of Educational Studies;Presents a persuasive and lucid case that holds concrete implications for the formation of public policy in liberal democratic states ... a welcome and timely addition to the literature on liberal political theory and a real attempt to tackle a fundamental issue which is too often conveniently ignored by many other liberals. - Political Studies;This book draws together philosophical debate with policy analysis in a way that makes fascinating reading ... The poise of the discussion is such that a reasonable hearing is given to both sides of the argument ... This book has shown that there can be a third perspective in the debate over school choice, and, perhaps surprisingly in the current climate, one that is not born out of politics but out of a philosophical understanding of social justice. - Sociology;A refreshing contribution to critical discussion of the social impacts of school choice reforms. - Sociology;Brighouse''s book is immensely useful in clarifying the value bases of public policy in education and will force readers to examine and ultimately refine their own assumptions about school choice. - Choice