charter schools

A study found Boston charter schools outperformed traditional public schools in academic results over 25 years but experienced a decline between 2015-2019, later recovering during the pandemic. MIT researcher Geoffrey Kocks analyzed lottery data from 32 Massachusetts charter schools to track performance shifts.

Minnesota's new laws effective July 1 include $1.24 billion for infrastructure projects, mandatory anonymous threat reporting systems in schools, and social media companies providing mental health warnings. The laws face some pushback from a tech industry group.

NY charter school leaders criticized the education department in a letter, expressing concern over repeated challenges to SUNY's decisions and support for lawsuits against SUNY-authorized schools. These schools serve over 117,000 students statewide.

The article claims teachers’ unions are attacking a school to undermine New York’s charter law, arguing unions should instead compete in classrooms to improve schools for all children.

A new poll shows only 8% of Philadelphia voters believe public education is on the right track, with most citing concerns about school conditions, leadership engagement, and recent policy decisions like school closures and budget cuts. The survey, conducted by Philly for Great Public Schools and Change Research, found strong support for charter schools and an audit of the school district.

The article highlights a divide in Democratic Party support for school choice based on income and race, with higher-income and more educated Democrats opposing it while Black, Hispanic, and lower-income Democrats are more supportive. Charter schools, the most common form of publicly funded school choice, disproportionately serve marginalized communities, reflecting demand for alternatives to underperforming schools in urban areas. Critics of school choice, often affluent families who already access private or district-specific options, are accused of holding 'luxury beliefs' that ignore the constraints faced by lower-income families.

Indianapolis voters will consider a 37-cent-per-$100-assessed-value tax increase this fall to fund city schools, generating $90 million annually. The revenue will split $43.9 million to Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and $43.9 million to participating charter schools, aiming to prevent staff cuts and a state takeover, though the district still faces $20 million in future budget reductions.

Two Nashville charter schools will eliminate fifth grade in the fall due to declining enrollment. The Metro Nashville Public Schools Board approved an emergency amendment request for this change.

Texas charter schools experienced their smallest enrollment increase in state history, with experts warning of potential declines due to falling birth rates, new school options, and immigration concerns. Charter enrollment growth has slowed to 2.4% this year, down from past highs, while traditional public schools face enrollment drops, particularly affecting Hispanic students.

Philly's charter school oversight system faces criticism for inconsistency and bias, with tensions between charter and district leaders leading to legal battles and operational challenges. Over five years, only one charter school has closed despite multiple others failing academic or financial standards, while an independent investigation highlighted conflicts of interest in the district's dual role of funding and regulating schools.

Texas’ charter schools continued to grow this school year, but the expansion pace has slowed. Experts warn that declining enrollment in traditional school districts could also impact charter schools.

Traditional Texas public schools are experiencing an enrollment decline for the first time in nearly 40 years, while charter schools continue to grow but at a reduced pace.

Detroit parents face challenges choosing schools due to closures and a lack of centralized information. The article highlights resources like Chalkbeat Detroit and the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) to help navigate options, including charter schools and neighborhood assignments.

Oklahoma's student performance has declined, dropping to 48th in NAEP rankings, but charter schools, particularly brick-and-mortar ones serving Black and Hispanic students, have shown stronger performance. Data from 2024-25 shows 31 of 49 brick-and-mortar charter schools outperformed traditional schools, with notable examples like Deborah Brown Elementary School outscoring peers by 59 points. Virtual charters, however, largely underperformed except Oklahoma Connection Academy High School.

The long-standing conflict over charter schools in LAUSD appears to be ending, as this election cycle shows a significant reduction in big-spending school board campaigns. Charter school advocates have stepped aside, and the teachers union has scaled back its efforts.

A Missouri education package aimed at implementing an A-F grading system for public schools collapsed in the final days of the legislative session due to disputes over charter-school expansion. The breakdown stemmed from Republican lawmakers' resistance to opening charter schools in their own districts, despite broader support for school choice.

A preliminary study from Brown University’s Annenberg Institute found that Indiana charter school students outperformed traditional public school peers in academic gains post-pandemic, particularly in English and math. The analysis, covering 2017-2024, highlighted stronger growth among Black, Hispanic, low-performing, and economically disadvantaged students in charter schools.