Charter school students do no better than students in traditional schools, and sometimes worse, according to a study by the Economic Policy Institute. A book will be out soon.
The American Federation of Teachers, which previously trashed charter schools, has a seat on the EPI board, points out the Charter Schools Leadership Council, which disputes the study.
Of course the target of this study is policy-makers and not parents.
Parents can vote a charter school out of existance any day of the week. All they need is a good reason and the school’s gone like a cool breeze.
That contrasts with the district-based schools which, after failing a generation or two of kids….well, nothing. Nothing happens. No schools are shut down, no teachers or administrators are canned. Nothing.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, data on charters as a whole are of little value. What I want to know is whether a certain type of charter is doing exceptionally well or poorly, so that approach can be examined.