Gary Miron and Christopher Nelson, National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
December 2001
The National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, continues to churn out "occasional papers" of varying quality and significance. This one is #41 in the series and was prepared by Gary Miron and Christopher Nelson of Western Michigan University's Evaluation Center. It seeks to compile extant data on student achievement in charter schools-a worthy project if an inconclusive paper, due largely to the spottiness of available data. In 33 pages, they do a decent job of identifying "independent" studies of student achievement in charter schools in those states where such studies have been conducted in methodologically defensible ways (just 8 states and a total of 18 studies). The meta-analysis of those studies leads them to conclude that charters currently present a "mixed or very slightly positive picture" with respect to pupil achievement. Mostly, though, they lament the paucity of decent data and sound studies. They provide some interesting theories about why so little is known and end up with a strong-and nearly irrefutable-plea for more research to be done. This is a good paper to know about, if only to answer the many people who innocently ask "Well, are charter schools working?" Judged by the single criterion of student achievement gains, the answer seems to be "The news is slightly positive but basically inconclusive for the nation as a whole." (Some of the individual state studies are more conclusive about gains-or the absence thereof-associated with their charter schools.) You can view a PDF version or request an emailed copy at http://www.ncspe.org.
