As we have learned, it is not enough to just pass a strong law; we must also make sure that it is implemented well and that other factors for success are in place. The Health of the Charter Public School Movement: A State-by-State Analysis is intended as a companion piece to the annual state charter law rankings released earlier this year. The new health rankings provide a comprehensive picture of how charter laws are working in practice. Most of the states with higher-ranked charter school laws are also highly ranked in the health-of-the-movement rankings.
Some key takeaways from this year’s report:
A strong charter law is necessary but cannot on its own drive positive results for charter schools. Other factors also come into play including quality authorizers, effective charter support organizations, strong school leaders and teachers, and engaged parents.
Some states’ charter movements have achieved strong results despite their lower-ranked laws. This is most likely the result of strong authorizers going beyond their weaker state requirements as well as the presence of high-performing charter schools willing to thoughtfully replicate and expand.
Supportive laws need time to move the needle in states that have previously experienced challenges. Accounting for the lag time between policy changes and their actual impact on student results, some states with recently enacted strong laws have yet to see improved results.
Click here to download the Health of the Charter Public School Movement: A State-by-State Analysis and learn more about the charter school movement in yours state.
