Katherine K. Merseth Katherine K. Merseth 11

Charter Schools: A New Charter Schools: A New Opportunity for School Opportunity for School

ReformReform

Harvard College in Asia Program Harvard College in Asia Program Professor Katherine K. MersethProfessor Katherine K. Merseth

February 2, 2010February 2, 2010Kay_Merseth@Harvard.eduKay_Merseth@Harvard.edu

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Charter Schools: True or False?Charter Schools: True or False?

1.1. There are more than 4000 charter There are more than 4000 charter schools currently operating in the USschools currently operating in the US

2.2. Charter school legislation has been Charter school legislation has been passed in 45 states and the District of passed in 45 states and the District of ColumbiaColumbia

3.3. Charters may have a religious focusCharters may have a religious focus

4.4. Charters are a relatively new policy idea Charters are a relatively new policy idea in the United Statesin the United States

5.5. Charters and vouchers are the same ideaCharters and vouchers are the same idea

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Charter Schools: T/F Cont…Charter Schools: T/F Cont…

5.5. If you support charters, you are also likely If you support charters, you are also likely to support vouchersto support vouchers

6.6. Charters may hand-pick their students Charters may hand-pick their students 7.7. A charter is always a contract between a A charter is always a contract between a

state department of education and a state department of education and a Board representing a charter schoolBoard representing a charter school

8.8. Charters are public schoolsCharters are public schools9.9. Traditional public schools may block the Traditional public schools may block the

launching of a charter schoollaunching of a charter school10.10. Charter schools are exempt from NCLBCharter schools are exempt from NCLB

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Basic Requirements of Basic Requirements of Charter SchoolsCharter Schools

►May not discriminateMay not discriminate►May not charge tuition (publicly funded)May not charge tuition (publicly funded)►May not teach religion (non-secular)May not teach religion (non-secular)►How, then, are charter schools different How, then, are charter schools different

from traditional public schools?from traditional public schools?

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Public? Public?

All charter schools are

PUBLIC

SCHOOLS

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One significant DifferenceOne significant Difference

►Charters make a Bargain: Charters make a Bargain: Autonomy for Autonomy for AccountabilityAccountability

►It’s a Horse It’s a Horse

TradeTrade

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Charter School GrowthCharter School Growth

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Katherine K. Merseth 9S’m

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Charter School TerminologyCharter School Terminology

►LEA (Local Educational Authority)LEA (Local Educational Authority)►CMO (Charter Management Organization)CMO (Charter Management Organization)►EMO (Educational Management EMO (Educational Management

Organization)Organization)►Charter NetworkCharter Network►Horace Mann Charter (Massachusetts)Horace Mann Charter (Massachusetts)►Commonwealth Charter (Massachusetts)Commonwealth Charter (Massachusetts)

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What What purpospurpos

e do e do charter charter schools schools serve?serve?

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Purposes of Charter SchoolsPurposes of Charter Schools

►Market ForceMarket Force (USPS vs. FedEx)(USPS vs. FedEx)

►Choice / Social JusticeChoice / Social Justice (1000 flowers bloom)(1000 flowers bloom)

►InnovationInnovation (Skunk Works)(Skunk Works)

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To Whom Are Charters To Whom Are Charters Accountable?Accountable?

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To Whom are Charter To Whom are Charter Schools Accountable?Schools Accountable?

►The ParentsThe Parents►State / NCLBState / NCLB►Their BoardTheir Board►AuthorizersAuthorizers

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Charter School Charter School AuthorizersAuthorizers

► ““Sponsors”Sponsors”► Who are they?Who are they?

Local school boardsLocal school boards State Departments of EducationState Departments of Education State “Charter Boards”State “Charter Boards” UniversitiesUniversities Not-for-Profit FoundationsNot-for-Profit Foundations

► Two basic dutiesTwo basic duties Grant chartersGrant charters Renew charters (based on ???)Renew charters (based on ???)

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Charter School Charter School Performance?Performance?

►Very variableVery variable►Very hard to measureVery hard to measure

Selection bias (+ and -)Selection bias (+ and -) Comparison groups?Comparison groups? Right outcomes?Right outcomes?

Katherine K. Merseth Katherine K. Merseth 1717% Proficient or Advanced

All DC Public Schools: 2005-06 DC-CAS Scores (All tested grades, English & Math)

Source: Stig Leschy

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Does Context Matter?Does Context Matter?

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Fu

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ing

?: I

t Fu

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ing

?: I

t d

ep

en

ds

dep

en

ds

Source:

Source: Osberg (2006). In Charter Schools Against the Odds (P. Hill, ed.), EdNext Books.

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What Makes a Strong What Makes a Strong Charter School Law?Charter School Law?

► Large number of schools (no cap)Large number of schools (no cap)► Multiple chartering authorities (with appeals)Multiple chartering authorities (with appeals)► Variety of applicantsVariety of applicants► Formal evidence of local supportFormal evidence of local support► Automatic waiver from laws and regulationsAutomatic waiver from laws and regulations► Legal / operational autonomyLegal / operational autonomy► Guaranteed full fundingGuaranteed full funding► Fiscal autonomyFiscal autonomy► Exemption from collective bargaining agreements Exemption from collective bargaining agreements

/ district work rules / district work rules

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Looking Across Successful Looking Across Successful Charter SchoolsCharter Schools

WhatWhat makes them successful? makes them successful?

►A A clear missionclear mission and a broadly shared and a broadly shared and strong and strong institutional cultureinstitutional culture

►Purposefully chosen teachers and Purposefully chosen teachers and administratorsadministrators who “fit” the who “fit” the organization’s cultureorganization’s culture

►OrganizationalOrganizational structures and systemsstructures and systems that support student learningthat support student learning

►Specific classroom proceduresSpecific classroom procedures►COHERENCE across allCOHERENCE across all

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Why so Contentious? Why so Contentious? Prickly QuestionsPrickly Questions

► If a charter school’s mission is all about If a charter school’s mission is all about college prep and the entire curriculum is AP college prep and the entire curriculum is AP classes for all, should the school admit a classes for all, should the school admit a mildly mentally retarded student (IQ = 68)?mildly mentally retarded student (IQ = 68)?

► Should high student attrition rates be Should high student attrition rates be indictments against charter schools?indictments against charter schools?

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Why so Contentious? Why so Contentious? More Prickly QuestionsMore Prickly Questions

► If the highest achieving students voluntarily If the highest achieving students voluntarily leave the traditional public schools for a leave the traditional public schools for a newly opened charter, has the charter newly opened charter, has the charter engaged in “skimming”?engaged in “skimming”?

► Should charter schools be held accountable Should charter schools be held accountable under NCLB?under NCLB?