Charter Schools Resources

Education Policy Center (http://www.epc.msu.edu/) at MSU's College of Education offers a number of papers on issues related to charter schools. Among the offerings: Are Charter Schools More Racially Segregated Than Traditional Public Schools? March 2007, Who Participates in Charter School Programs in Michigan? March 2007, and Framing the Issues in the School Choice Debate: Lessons and Questions.
(Last checked 8/3/09)

Michigan Association of Public School Academies  MAPSA's mission is to provide leadership to advance quality and promote choice in education. MAPSA serves this purpose through its support of a strong community of chartered public schools and their supporters, committed to offering every Michigan child an opportunity to learn. Most of the information on the site is geared to advocacy for Charter Schools. Site includes a School Search feature, but registration is required to use it.
(Last checked 8/3/09)

The Evaluation Center (http://www.wmich.edu/evalctr/ ) Located at Western Michigan University, the Center has links to a number of charter school evaluation projects.

The U.S. Department of Education's site offers several charter related publications:

• America's Charter Schools (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/charter/2005456.asp) The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) conducted a pilot study of America’s charter schools and their students as part of the 2003 NAEP assessments in reading and mathematics at the fourth-grade level. NAEP also surveyed participating charter schools about their practices, structure, and governance. Also from this pilot study the Department has prepared A Closer Look at Charter Schools Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling. The report is dated August 2006.
• A commitment to Quality: National Charter School Policy Forum (http://www.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/charter/index.html) While many charter schools are performing at the highest levels, some struggle to provide the quality education our students deserve. This report summarizes the Department of Education's vision of the future of the charter sector in the U.S.—and what needs to happen to achieve that vision, October 2008.
• Innovations in Education: Successful Charter Schools (http://www.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/charter/index.html) Elements of effective charter schools and stories of eight successful charter schools are presented in this report, June 2004.
• Public Charter Schools Program (http://www.ed.gov/programs/charter/performance.html) The Public Charter Schools Program supports the planning, development, and initial implementation of charter schools. Site includes some performance data.
• Challenge and Opportunity: The Impact of Charter Schools on Districts (June 2001) ( http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/choice/chart_index.html?exp=0) explores the operational and educational changes in districts that administrators attribute to charter schools, and the conditions under which districts tend to make particular changes.
• A Study of Charter School Accountability (June 2001).( http://www.ed.gov/pubs/chartacct/ ) The charter school movement is still a new phenomenon. This report--the result of the first extensive, nationwide study of charter school accountability-illuminates issues posed by observing charter schools in operation. It also studies how school districts and, in some states, universities or special state agencies are learning to oversee charter schools.
• Venturesome Capital: State Charter School Financing Systems (December 2000) ( http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/choice/charterfin.pdf) examines the laws, regulations and state practices governing charter school finance during the 1998-99 school year in 23 states and 2 cities. In addition to describing finance laws and practices, this study also includes an estimation of the dollar amounts that states allocate to charter schools based on the types of students enrolled, and numerous other factors central to charter school funding.
• The State of Charter Schools: Fourth Year Report - January 2000 (http://www.ed.gov/pubs/charter4thyear/) is the latest report from a four year longtitudinal study of the nation's charter schools. This report reviews the state role in the charter movement; describes basic characteristics, including school size, grade levels, and student demographics, of currently operating charter schools; discusses why charter schools were founded and what barriers they encounter. Earlier reports also available Third: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/charter3rdyear/ Second: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/charter98/ First: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/charter/
• Impact of the New Title I Requirements on Charter Schools (http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/charterguidance03.pdf) Guidance for charter schools on No Child Left Behind regulations.
  (Last checked 8/3/09)

The Center for Education Reform (http://www.edreform.com/) offers an array of information about charter schools. Many of their publications are summarized or excerpted here. The Center has also prepared a list of State Department of Education charter school contacts, national and state organizations and a calendar of events.
(Last checked 8/3/09)

The Green Charter Schools Network (http://www.greencharterschools.org/) Aims to support the establishment, enhancement and advancement of charter schools with environment-focused educational programs and practices. Contains news, a directory of schools, and some information about going green.
(Last checked 8/3/09)

National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (http://www.publiccharters.org/) The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance provides assistance to state charter school associations and resource centers, develops and advocates for improved public policies, and serves as the united voice for the charter school movement. The website provides access to several publications about charter schools, news releases and a blog.
(Last checked 8/3/09)

National Association of Charter School Authorizers (http://www.qualitycharters.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1) From the site's "about" page: "Working closely with our authorizer members, NACSA developed Principles & Standards that define professional practice for quality authorizing across America. Since our founding in 2000, we have attracted the nation's strongest authorizers, overseeing the majority of charter schools in operation. NACSA provides training, consultation and policy guidance to authorizers and others interested in using public charter schools to improve student outcomes.
(Last checked 8/3/09)

U S Charter Schools (http://www.uscharterschools.org/pub/uscs_docs/index.htm) is the product of a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Education, the Policy Support & Studies Program at WestEd, and the California State University (CSU) Institute for Education Reform, Charter Schools Project. The aim is to develop a national demonstration project to field test the use of web-based technologies in supporting educational innovation in charter schools. Major components include: Starting and Running a Charter School, State Information and Contacts, Charter School Profiles, and a Resource Directory & Links.
(Last checked 8/3/09)