Public Charter Schools: Leading Public Education to Higher Levels of Student Achievement

Public Charter Schools Charter schools are public schools that are free to be more innovative and are held accountable for improved student achievement. Charter schools cannot charge tuition, teach religion, or have admission requirements. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools2

Public Charter Schools Flexibility: Charter schools are free to make timely decisions about developing curriculum, structuring the school day, and hiring teachers that meet the needs of their students. Accountability: Charter schools operate within a multi-tiered accountability system – to parents, to authorizers, and to the state – that leads to quality schools and achievement. Choice: Parents select the school their child attends. Teachers choose to work in the school, most often for the professional satisfaction and the opportunity to shape school policy. Partnerships with Parents and Communities: Parents and community members are welcomed in charter schools and involved in the day-to-day operation of them. Innovation: Charters’ flexibility to adapt to the educational needs of children often leads to innovative methods of teaching and of operating schools. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools3

History First charter law passed in Minnesota in 1991 First charter school opened in Minnesota in states and D.C. have enacted charter laws Maine was the last state to enact a charter law (June 2011) © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools4

The Numbers More than 5,200 charters, serving over 1.8 million students. 400 to 500 new charters open each year. 150,000 to 200,000 new charter students enroll each year. Almost 400,000 students on waiting lists. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools5

The Numbers 4% of the nation’s public school students attend charters AZ: 12% New Orleans: 62% © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools6

Who Are Charters Serving? 63% of charter students are non-white (vs. 43% in traditional public schools) 52% of charter students quality for free and reduced price lunch (vs. 45% in traditional public schools) © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools7

Who Are Charters Serving? Students with an Individualized Education Plan: 12% in charters vs. 12% in non-charters Students who are Limited English Proficient: 17% in charters vs. 11% in non-charters © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools8

Who Are Charters Serving? Research overwhelmingly shows that charters typically serve students who are either academically behind their traditional public school peers or at the same academic level 55% in cities, 21% in suburbs, 8% in towns, and 16% in rural areas © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools9

How Are Charters Doing? Charter schools are usually among the top performers in their districts. They’re shattering low expectations and breaking through long-standing barriers that have prevented too many students from achieving educational success. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools10

How Are Charters Doing? The National Charter School Research Project released a meta-analysis of charter school studies in This report is the most solid review to date of the empirical research on how public charter schools perform compared to traditional public schools. Studies that use the best data and the most sophisticated research techniques show charters outperforming comparable traditional public schools. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools11

How Are Charters Doing? CREDO Study of 16 states Mixed findings for charters Charter performance varies by state Re-emphasized the importance of how state laws address autonomy, accountability, and funding © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools12

Strong Laws Matter – A Lot National Alliance released a new model charter school law in 2009 that serves as the new barometer for high-quality public charter school laws. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools13

Strong Laws Matter – A Lot Allow Conversions and Start-Ups Allow Charters Statewide, but Give Preference to Charter Applicants in Areas with Low-Performing Schools Allow Multiple Paths to Approval for Charter Applicants © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools14

Strong Laws Matter – A Lot Provide Maximum Autonomy Ensure Strong Accountability Provide Equitable Funding © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools15

Myths and Facts Myth: Charters aren’t public schools. Fact: Charters cannot teach religion, charge tuition, and have admission requirements. Fact: Charters must be open to all students who want to attend; if more students enroll than there are seats available, schools must conduct lotteries to fill seats. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools16

Myths and Facts Myth: Charters cherry pick their students. Fact: Charters cannot have admission requirements. Fact: Charters must be open to all students who want to attend; if more students enroll than there are seats available, schools must conduct lotteries to fill seats. Fact: Research shows that charter students are often further behind academically than their peers who stay in traditional public schools. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools17

Myths and Facts Myth: Charters drain money from the public schools. Fact: Moving dollars from one public school to another. Fact: Bring new resources into public education. Fact: Can have an immediate, positive fiscal impact on the broader community – as well as a long-term, positive fiscal impact if they are successful. © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools18

Myths and Facts Myth: Charters aren’t accountable. Fact: Charters must meet state standards, take state tests, and participate in state accountability systems Fact: Charters must enter into a charter contract with authorizer that outlines performance measures that charters must meet in order to stay open (academic, financial, and operational) © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools

Myths and Facts Myth: Charters undermine local control. Fact: By giving power to parents, teachers, and principals to run schools to best meet student needs, charter schools represent the strongest form of local control in public education period. Fact: In most states, local school boards have the ability to authorize charter schools (most often in addition to other entities like postsecondary institutions). © 2011 National Alliance for Charter Schools