A Few Points About The New CREDO Charter School Analysis
A new report from CREDO on charter schools’ test-based performance received a great deal of attention, and rightfully so – it includes 27 states, which together serve 95 percent of the nation’s charter students.
The analysis as a whole, like its predecessor, is a contribution. Its sheer scope, as well as a few specific parts (examination of trends), are new and important. On the other hand, most of the findings serve to reaffirm the core conclusions of the existing research on charters’ estimated test-based effects. Such an interpretation may not be particularly satisfying to charter supporters and opponents looking for new ammunition, but the fact that this national analysis will not settle anything in the contentious debate about charter schools once again suggests the need to start asking a different set of questions.
Along these lines, as well as others, there are a few points worth discussing quickly.
The overall finding is that charter schools vary widely in test-based performance, and on the whole are
The analysis as a whole, like its predecessor, is a contribution. Its sheer scope, as well as a few specific parts (examination of trends), are new and important. On the other hand, most of the findings serve to reaffirm the core conclusions of the existing research on charters’ estimated test-based effects. Such an interpretation may not be particularly satisfying to charter supporters and opponents looking for new ammunition, but the fact that this national analysis will not settle anything in the contentious debate about charter schools once again suggests the need to start asking a different set of questions.
Along these lines, as well as others, there are a few points worth discussing quickly.
The overall finding is that charter schools vary widely in test-based performance, and on the whole are
