Why what looked like good news for charter schools actually wasn’t

It seemed like good news for charter schools when a study released this summer declared that they get better student outcomes than do traditional public schools — at least from 2015 to 2019, the years for which researchers said they crunched the numbers. The Wall Street Journal editorial board hailed the results as showing “huge learning gains over union schools” (with “union schools” used as a pejorative reference to public schools in traditional school districts). Education Week’s headline declared: “Charter Schools Now Outperform Traditional Public Schools, Sweeping Study Finds.”

But the study, it turned out, doesn’t show that at all. The headlines were wrong. For one thing, a close look at the results revealed only tiny improvements in charter schools. That, plus concerns critics have raised about the validity of the methodology and definitions used in the study, render moot the claims of besting traditional public schools.

The “not what they seem” theme of the study results reflect the uncertain position in which charter schools find themselves these days. The vanguard of the “school choice” movement when the first charter opened in 1992 in Minneapolis, these schools have been eclipsed in the national debate about “school choice” by programs that use public money for private and religious schools, including vouchers, tax credit programs and education savings accounts.

Please help put parents in charge of their child’s education by forwarding this article to other parents, family, friends and voters.
One open locker in a hallway. by Laura Rivera is licensed under Unsplash unsplash.com

Other Articles

California school district policy 'outing' trans pupils blocked by judge
A judge has blocked part of a policy in a California school district that would require teachers to 'out' trans students to their parents.
Read More
'A Trifecta of Harm': Federal Judge Says California School District Can't Force Teachers To Lie to Parents About Gender Identity
A federal judge on Thursday blocked a San Diego-area school district from forcing teachers to lie about a child's gender identity to their parents.
Read More
California adding apprenticeships to teacher recruitment toolbox
California teacher apprenticeship program will allow candidates to earn while they learn.
Read More
Beth Ann Rosica: A glimmer of hope for public schools — union opt outs
More and more, teachers in government schools are exercising their right to leave their unions.
Read More
Opinion: The achievement gap in Southern California’s education system
This inaccessibility due to expenses is one example of the achievement gap. In schools, the achievement gap is a difference in academic performance between groups of students. It arises at a young age, when students are born into a particular social class, race, disability, or gender.
Read More
California high schoolers will soon need to take financial literacy class to graduate
California high schoolers will soon be required to take a financial literacy course to graduate. Gov. Newsom is expected to sign AB 2927 into law, his office said.
Read More
SB 292:Is California Ready For School Choice?
California Policy Center (CPC) is proud to announce that we are sponsoring the new ESA bill introduced by state Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield).
Read More
What is the Children's Educational Opportunity Act?
Children's Educational Opportunity ACT (CEO Act) allows California parents choose the best accredited school using voter approved Prop 98 funds.
Read More

Get latest news delivered daily!

We will send you breaking news right to your inbox

© 2025 educationopportunity.org, Privacy Policy | FPPC #1460602