Whitney Tilson's School Reform Blog: CER charter school study

Today's press release from The Center for Education Reform. I had no idea charters are now serving 4% of America's public schoolchildren:

In the last year alone, charter schools have grown by over 13 percent and now account for a full four percent of all of the nation's public schools.

Some nice data too:

The recent government report dubbed "the Nation's Report Card" offers first time comparative data about charter achievement growth between 2003 and 2005. Charter school fourth graders gained 4 points in reading compared to stagnant results among conventional public school students. In Washington, DC, where fully 26 percent of students are enrolled in charter schools, charter students outperformed conventional students in both reading and math. Charter students in the nation's capital had a 13-point increase over the 2003 test in math with an additional four percent of all students achieving proficiency. Other state data reveals similar gains, including in states with the strongest laws, among them Arizona, the District of Columbia, Delaware, and California.

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CHARTER SCHOOLS EXPERIENCING EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IN THE UNITED STATES, NEW STUDY FINDS

Washington, D.C. – The growth and popularity of charter schools in America is exploding, according to a new study released today by The Center for Education Reform (CER). In the last year alone, charter schools have grown by over 13 percent and now account for a full four percent of all of the nation's public schools.

"It is no surprise that we are seeing a phenomenal rate of growth for charter schools. We know that charter schools are producing superior results for our children," said CER President Jeanne Allen. "We fully expect to see this type of unprecedented growth continue in the future throughout America's public school systems."

The recent government report dubbed "the Nation's Report Card" offers first time comparative data about charter achievement growth between 2003 and 2005. Charter school fourth graders gained 4 points in reading compared to stagnant results among conventional public school students. In Washington, DC, where fully 26 percent of students are enrolled in charter schools, charter students outperformed conventional students in both reading and math. Charter students in the nation's capital had a 13-point increase over the 2003 test in math with an additional four percent of all students achieving proficiency. Other state data reveals similar gains, including in states with the strongest laws, among them Arizona, the District of Columbia, Delaware, and California.

"The current evidence points overwhelmingly to superior results in educating our children," said Allen. "They simply perform better in math and reading in charter schools, according to the weight of the data."

Because of increasing evidence of success, the number of charter schools has continued to grow. CER's latest report documents 3,625 charter schools serving approximately 1,076,964 students in 41 states.

The annual assessment by CER — the only comprehensive research of its kind —includes data regarding the number of charter schools closed since they first were started in 1992. The national closure rate, defined as the percentage of charters ever opened that have since closed for cause due to management, funding, academic or district-related issues, is 11 percent, up slightly since the last report was issued in April 2004.

Finally, additional public opinion data reveals strong support for the concept of charters, while demonstrating a comparatively low level of knowledge as to what a charter school is. In data released by The Center for Education Reform in cooperation with the polling company™ inc./WomenTrend, the following findings are illustrative:

On average, only twenty percent of Americans correctly identify charter schools as public schools.
Americans support the creation of charter schools by more than a five to one margin.
Single moms are 7 points more likely than parents generally and respondents overall to support charters (85 percent compared to 78 percent).
Not-Yet-Moms (women between 28 and 45 who are not now but fully intend to be mothers within the next five years) are most intensely supportive.
Charter schools enjoy tri-partisan support: Republicans (87 percent), Democrats (74 percent), especially Democratic women (77 percent), and Independents (70 percent) would all green light community efforts to create these "new public schools."

"Increasing the public's knowledge of the structure and mission of charters is tantamount to increasing the public's support for these new public schools," says the polling company™, inc. president and recognized author Kellyanne Conway. "The data demonstrate that to know charters is to like charters."

"Charter school communities around the country report unprecedented interest and this new information tells us why," added Allen.

The Center for Education Reform will make available all of the data concerning the nation's 3,625 charter schools on-line on Wednesday, November 9. That data will be updated regularly and allow subscribers to access the latest data in real time. Meanwhile, link below to more comprehensive data on the latest charter school figures, additional achievement results and polling research.