Taking Measure of Charter Schools
Better Assessments, Better Policymaking, Better Schools
Contributions by June Ahn, Larry Angel, Dominic J. Brewer, Laura S. Hamilton, Jeffrey R. Henig, Robin J. Lake, Patrick J. McEwan, Robert B. Olsen, Lydia Rainey, Brian M. Stecher, Y Emily Tang, Andrew C. Zau Edited by Julian R. Betts, Paul T. Hill
Publication date:
16 May 2010Length of book:
216 pagesPublisher
R&L EducationDimensions:
241x162mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9781607093589
Charter schools offer something that public school systems, parents, and teachers need: a way to experiment with alternative ways of teaching, motivating students, organizing schools, using technology, and employing teachers. While people came down on both sides of support for or against charter schools, everyone was surprised by how difficult it was to assess charter school performance. The first part of this book focuses on how to improve estimates of charter schools' performance, especially their benefits to students who attend them; the second part suggests how policymakers can learn more about charter schools and make better use of evidence. The editors and authors suggest ways states and localities can improve the quality of data on which charter school studies are based and trace some of the ways charter school research influences policy.
Charter schools are by far the most important form of school choice in the U.S., yet making sense of the often conflicting research on their efficacy can be a daunting task. Julian Betts, Paul Hill, and the contributing authors clearly lay out the challenges in evaluating charter school performance, critically evaluate what existing research tells us (and doesn't tell us) about charters, and offer suggestions on how best to expand our knowledge of the successes and shortcomings of the charter school movement. This book is an invaluable guide for anyone interested in getting past the sometimes shrill debate over charter schools and truly understanding this prominent component of educational reform.