For Charter Schools, Demand for More Success - And Seats
A new report from Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) is likely to provide plenty of ammunition for both supporters and critics of the independently operated, public-funded campuses.
The report—an update to the center’s frequently cited 2009 study -- looked at charter schools in 25 states, Washington, D.C. and New York City (the nation's largest school district). Researchers found that overall charter school students posted learning gains in reading that were slightly better than their demographically similar peers at traditional public schools. However, there wasn't much difference in student learning gains when it came to mathematics. At the same time, outcomes varied significantly among states, with some charter school students making strides while others actually lost academic ground. (For more on the study, check out Sara Mead’s thoughtful take for Education Sector.)
The charter school gains were particularly strong for students who arguably are most in need of an educational intervention – including the historically underserved populations of children of color, English-language learners, and those coming from low-income households. Here’s just one striking example: Black students living in
The report—an update to the center’s frequently cited 2009 study -- looked at charter schools in 25 states, Washington, D.C. and New York City (the nation's largest school district). Researchers found that overall charter school students posted learning gains in reading that were slightly better than their demographically similar peers at traditional public schools. However, there wasn't much difference in student learning gains when it came to mathematics. At the same time, outcomes varied significantly among states, with some charter school students making strides while others actually lost academic ground. (For more on the study, check out Sara Mead’s thoughtful take for Education Sector.)
The charter school gains were particularly strong for students who arguably are most in need of an educational intervention – including the historically underserved populations of children of color, English-language learners, and those coming from low-income households. Here’s just one striking example: Black students living in
