Issue Synthesis: Emerging in Minnesota in 1991 as an alternative to traditional public schools, the charter school movement continues to gain momentum. Currently 33 states, including Arizona, California, and Nevada, have passed legislation allowing charter schools to operate free from many state rules and regulations. Local control and flexibility in exchange for increased accountability is the hallmark of charter schools, as each school is required to develop its own educational plans, sometimes manage their own resources and personnel, and meet specific student performance goals as stated in their charter. In many states, a school's progress toward goals and outcomes listed in the charter, which is sometimes called its performance contract, is reviewed every 3-5 years. Bipartisan support for charter schools continues to grow, with the debate now largely focused on how to maximize autonomy while still maintaining accountability.
Click any of the links below for research conducted by WestEd or other research organizations. We also maintain an archive page on this topic.
WestEd Research
Creating Working Relationships: How Can School Districts and Charter Schools Work Together Effectively, by Jo Ann Izu (1999), PDF format
Drawing upon WestEd's evaluation of 13 charter schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, this Knowledge Brief highlights the difficulties of balancing the twin needs of charter school autonomy and accountability, and the implications for how charter schools and districts can work together.
The Findings and Implications of Increased Flexibility and Accountability: An Evaluation of Charter Schools in Los Angeles Unified School District by Jo Ann Izu, Lisa Carlos, Kyo Yamashiro, Lawrence Picus, Naida Tushnet, and Priscilla Wohlstetter (1998)
This report presents the findings of a five-month evaluation of 13 charter schools in LAUSD, consisting of a cross-site report, five in-depth case studies, and eight profiles.
There are many web sites dedicated to providing information, research, and resources about charter schools. Below are links to some of the most important sites.
Educational/Policy Organizations and Agencies
American Association of School Administrators (AASA)
Founded in 1865, AASA is a professional organization for educators.
Education Commission of the States (ECS)
ECS seeks to help state leaders develop and carry out policies that promote improved performance of the education system as reflected in increased learning by all citizens. Visit the State Policies, Issues, and Activities section of ECS's Information Clearinghouse for information on charter schools.
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
NCSL is a bipartisan organization serving legislative policymakers by providing comprehensive information on critical state issues. Check out its information on charter schools.
National Education Association (NEA)
NEA's page on charter schools contains an extensive list of links to its own research and policies surrounding charter schools, as well as links to information from other education- and policy-related organizations.
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL)
This regional education laboratory maintains a page dedicated to Charter Schools, with an emphasis on schools in the Northwest.
Technical Assistance Sites
California State University (CSU) Institute for Education Reform
This organization maintains an extensive list of charter school resources for charter school operators and developers.
U.S. Charter Schools Web Site
This exhaustive site provides state and school information, a resource directory, and comprehensive startup and assistance information for charter school developers and operators. The site also contains many useful research documents, which provide essential information to practitioners, policymakers, and members of the public interested in charter schools.
Advocacy Groups
The Center for Education Reform (CER)
CER is a national, nonprofit education advocacy group and an active broker in providing resources, support, and guidance for school reform to communities across the United States. Visit their About Charter Schools page, which contains CER's action papers and reports on charter schools, legislative profiles, charter laws, news alerts, and CER Op-Eds, among other things.
Periodicals
Education Week
Visit EdWeek's page on charter schools, which presents an overview of the issue and links to previous articles.
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