edited by Melanie Looney, Center for Education Reform
October 2002
Despite well-publicized failures, most charter schools are thriving, according to the Center for Education Reform (CER). In a new report, CER maintains that charter school closures - which total just 194, a scant 6.7 percent of the 2,874 schools ever chartered - are less about specific schools' shortcomings and more about obstacles placed in their paths by a jealous education establishment. CER analyzed the reasons for closure of 154 of those schools, breaking them down by type: financial, mismanagement, academic, district, facility, and "other." In some cases, schools were thwarted by lack of facilities, inadequate enrollment, or disputes between chartering organization and school personnel - woes that could have been largely avoided were it not for districts' hostility toward charters. In other cases, the schools were simply consolidated or counted as closed even though they never opened. No matter the reason for closure, the details are often more complicated than charter opponents would have you believe. Have a look at this interesting report - which is short on text but laden with data on each school - at http://www.edreform.com/charter_schools/closures.pdf. Hard copies are available for $19.95 each by calling 800-521-2118.
