charter schools

charter schools
Name	Charter schools
Other name	Independent public schools
Established	1990s (widespread)
Type	Publicly funded independent schools
Country	United States; international models

charter schools are publicly funded independent schools operating under a performance contract, often established by educators, philanthropy, or community groups. Proponents cite increased autonomy, citing models linked to Milton Friedman, Bill Bennett, and Eva Moskowitz's Success Academy Charter Schools, while critics reference controversies involving Betsy DeVos, Michelle Rhee, and debates in cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The movement intersects with policy debates among institutions like the U.S. Department of Education, Brookings Institution, and think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation and Century Foundation.

Definition and Characteristics

Charter schools are defined by a contract—commonly called a "charter"—between a school operator and an authorizing body such as a school district, state board of education, or charter school authorizer like the Charter School Growth Fund or Arizona State Board for Charter Schools. Typical characteristics include school-level autonomy over curriculum and staffing, flexibility from collective bargaining arrangements such as those involving the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers, and accountability for performance metrics tied to standardized assessments like the SAT, ACT, or state assessments. Operators range from nonprofit organizations such as KIPP Foundation and Uncommon Schools to for-profit management organizations like those formerly associated with Imagine Schools.

History and Development

Early conceptual roots trace to market-oriented reforms promoted by thinkers including Milton Friedman and policy advocates such as Ted Kolderie. The modern U.S. wave began with pilot programs in the 1990s, accelerated by legislation such as the Charter Schools Act in states including Minnesota and California, and federal support through initiatives like the Charter Schools Program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorizations. Key milestones include the expansion in urban centers—New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina and Philadelphia—and international adaptations in countries such as United Kingdom and Sweden where analogous models provoked policy exchanges with agencies like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Governance and Funding

Governance structures vary from locally controlled boards to networks governed by centralized management organizations; examples include local boards overseeing Green Dot Public Schools and centralized governance in the KIPP network. Funding sources combine state per-pupil allocations tied to formulas set by bodies like state legislatures, federal grants via the U.S. Department of Education, philanthropic capital from entities such as the Gates Foundation and Walton Family Foundation, and facilities financing through instruments advocated by the Institute for Education Sciences. Controversies over funding equity involve municipal disputes in cities like Seattle and Denver regarding facilities funding and access to transportation.

Academic Performance and Outcomes

Empirical evaluations by researchers at institutions such as Harvard University's Sociology Department, University of Chicago's Consortium on School Research, and policy analysts at RAND Corporation produce mixed findings. Studies of networks like KIPP show gains in certain metrics, while meta-analyses by scholars affiliated with Stanford University and the Brookings Institution reveal heterogeneity across states and authorizers. Performance debates focus on outcomes measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, college enrollment tracked by National Student Clearinghouse, and long-term earnings analyses using datasets from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critics including researchers at Teachers College, Columbia University, activists from Jersey City and coalitions like Save Our Schools cite concerns about selective enrollment, student attrition, impacts on special education services monitored by U.S. Office for Civil Rights, and displacement effects in districts like Detroit and Baltimore. Legal challenges have involved cases before courts influenced by plaintiffs represented by organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and policy responses from officials like state attorneys general. Political controversies have intertwined with campaign contributions from philanthropists including Stanley Druckenmiller and policy influence traced to advisory roles for figures like Rahm Emanuel.

Regulatory Framework and Accountability

Accountability mechanisms include performance contracts enforced by authorizers such as state education agencies, revocation processes seen in actions by the Ohio Department of Education, and oversight measures tied to federal statutes including aspects of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Monitoring agencies rely on audit practices similar to those of Government Accountability Office reports and civil rights enforcement by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. Regulatory debates address renewal criteria, closure protocols informed by decisions in jurisdictions like Florida and Texas, and transparency standards promoted by organizations such as the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.

Impact on Public Education and Community

The impact of charter schools on traditional public schools has been studied in contexts including enrollment shifts in Los Angeles Unified School District and funding consequences in Chicago Public Schools. Proponents highlight innovation diffusion with curriculum experimentation akin to reforms led in districts partnering with foundations like the Broad Foundation, while opponents emphasize community fragmentation documented in ethnographic work from researchers at University of California, Berkeley and Teachers College. Broader civic implications touch on debates over school choice mobilization seen in policy shifts involving elected officials such as Governors and municipal leaders, and the role of charter networks in urban redevelopment initiatives linked to planning authorities in cities like Philadelphia.

Category:Schools