Saturday, April 2, 2011

Education Research Report: KIPP: Lots of Private $, High Drop-out Rate

Education Research Report: KIPP: Lots of Private $, High Drop-out Rate

KIPP: Lots of Private $, High Drop-out Rate

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Western Michigan University researchers have released a study raising questions about the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP). The network of charter schools has been praised by members of the Obama administration and the previous administration of George W. Bush.

The study does not question evidence of student achievement gains made in KIPP schools. But the report says KIPP relies too heavily on a large infusion of money from private sources, which the authors say may make it hard to sustain the program over time.

The report also found that KIPP's schools have substantially higher levels of attrition than traditional public schools.

Details:

The study finds that while KIPP serves more students that qualify for free and reduced lunch than local schools

Do Charter Schools Crowd Out Private School Enrollment?

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Evidence from Michigan


Charter schools have been one of the most important dimensions of recent school reform measures in the United States. Currently, there are more than 5,000 charter schools spread across the 40 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Though there have been numerous studies on the effects of charter schools, these have mostly been confined to analyzing their effects on student achievement, student demographic composition, parental

New Orleans as a Diverse Education Provider

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In 2005 there were about 120 schools in New Orleans. Catering mostly to a poor and minority population, the schools were financially bankrupt as well as academically impoverished. In October 2005 Katrina hit New Orleans with such devastation that 80 percent of its population fled their homes, one third of the schools were destroyed, and most were damaged. The schools of New Orleans were charged with recovering quickly, not only rebuilding structures and staffing them to accommodate returning students, but also improving vastly their academic performance.

This article
documents the changes that took place through the state’s Recovery School District, charter