CED Issues Recommendations to Boost Quality of Charter Schools

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As charter schools have expanded and begun educating more American school children, so has the discussion over the role they should play in our public school system. In a new policy brief, the Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED) overviews what charter schools are (and are not) and what we know about their effectiveness. Charting a Path Forward for Charter Schools aims to facilitate more knowledgeable discussion among policymakers and other stakeholders.

As the report highlights, charter schools across the country share the attribute of operating under a charter, but differ greatly in their organizational structure, culture, funding, types of students they serve, educational priorities, and most importantly, their effectiveness. The early years of the charter school movement focused primarily on expanding the number of charter schools. The sector is growing and continues to solidify its position in U.S. public education.

Now, as student outcomes from this first set of charter schools indicate wide variation in the effectiveness of individual charter schools, it's time for policymakers to shift their focus from the size of the sector to the quality of particular schools.

To best serve students' needs, legislatures, state education agencies, charter school authorizers, and other policymakers should prioritize:

• Improving quality control. States, local governments, and charter school authorizers should work in tandem to close under-performing or mismanaged charter schools and to develop best practices and better quality control when charter schools are initially authorized.
• Providing high-quality charter options where population density supports growth. High-quality charter school options that support school choice and meet the varied educational needs of more children should be promoted especially where demand is sufficient to support additional schools.
• Promoting charter schools as laboratories of innovation. The original vision for charter schools – to serve as "innovation labs" that pilot and test new educational models – has yet to be fully realized. It is in the nation's best interest to offer both traditional and charter school options within our public school system and to learn more about effective educational practices.

View the new CED policy brief, Charting a Path Forward for Charter Schools, here.

About the Committee for Economic Development: 
Founded in 1942, the Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, business–led public policy organization that delivers well–researched analysis and reasoned solutions to our nation's most critical issues. CED's work is grounded on seven core principles: sustainable capitalism, long–term economic growth, efficient fiscal and regulatory policy, competitive and open markets, a globally competitive workforce, equal economic opportunity, and nonpartisanship in the nation's interest. Learn more at www.ced.org.

Media Contacts: Reena Kankaria
[email protected]; 202.469.7821  

Joseph DiBlasi
[email protected]; 202.469.7824

SOURCE Committee for Economic Development

Related Links

http://www.ced.org