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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: New Mexico charter schools

CHARTER SCHOOL SCANDALS: New Mexico charter schools

New Mexico charter schools

REPORT TO THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE: PROGRAM EVALUATION OF NEW MEXICO CHARTER SCHOOLS, July 23, 2010, New Mexico Public Education Department

[From the Executive Summary]

…Charter schools have high costs to the state and have similar levels of student performance as traditional public schools. Current costs to the state are driven by favorable education funding formula adjustments for charter schools that total $34.7 million. The small school site format of charter schools means that less of the state’s education funding is spent on instruction. Charter schools have to undergo an application process before opening and a charter renewal process every five years. The application process needs increased rigor to ensure only quality schools