WHEN BILLIONAIRES FUND 'MAGIC' CHARTER SCHOOL RESEARCH
Ah, charter schools. The beloved darling of the billionaire class. They're like a shiny new toy that the super-rich just can't resist playing with. And why not? They get to feel like they're doing something good for society while also getting to pat themselves on the back for being so darn smart. It's a win-win!
But here's the thing: when billionaires fund research into charter schools, they miraculously always seem to get the exact results they paid for. It's like magic! And boy, is that some well-spent money.
Take, for example, a recent report by the National Education Policy Center. The report details the flaws in research conducted by pro-charter think tanks and academic departments. According to the report, these studies often claim that charters are underfunded compared to their district public school counterparts. But as it turns out, these claims are based on some seriously flawed methodology.
For one thing, these studies often compare individual schools to other individual schools, rather than looking at entire districts as a unit of analysis. This is like comparing apples to oranges, except even less useful. Additionally, these studies often make invalid comparisons of student populations and functions between charters and district public schools. And let's not forget about the unaccounted for charter revenues!
But fear not, dear reader. The National Education Policy Center has provided a handy guide for stakeholders to evaluate the accuracy and transparency of research. Because let's face it, we wouldn't want to make any decisions based on unsound research that could negatively impact district schools and state budgets.
So why do billionaires love charter schools so much? Well, for one thing, it's a way for them to feel like they're making a difference in the world without actually having to pay their fair share in taxes. And let's not forget about the ego boost they get from having their name plastered all over a shiny new charter school building.
But the real reason they love charter schools so much? Because they get to control them. That's right, when you're a billionaire, you get to play school superintendent. And who wouldn't want that kind of power?
Of course, there are some pesky little things like accountability and oversight that get in the way of total control. But hey, that's what all that "magic" research is for, right? To make sure that everything goes exactly according to plan.
So let's raise a glass to all the billionaires out there who are funding "magic" charter school research. Because without them, we might actually have to rely on sound evidence-based research to make decisions about education policy. And where's the fun in that?
Evaluating Research That Alleges Funding Disparities Between Charter and District Schools | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/funding-disparities
CURMUDGUCATION: Report: The Flaws In Charter Funding Research https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2023/09/report-flaws-in-charter-funding-research.html
Big Education Ape: RESEARCH MISCONDUCT: HOW STATE DEFUNDING AND PRIVATIZATION IS MAKING FOOLS OF US ALL https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/08/research-misconduct-how-state-defunding.html