Why are charter schools outperforming noncharters?
This study measured performance levels between different types of charter schools and traditional public schools. It did not attempt to explain why those differences occur. There are a number of theories that attempt to explain why charter schools may perform better than traditional public schools. For example, some charter school advocates believe that operating independently of the traditional school district structure and regulations provides them with greater flexibility to implement programs that improve student achievement. Another theory is that differences in performance reflect the increased parental engagement that often follows a student’s enrollment in a charter school. However, these theories were not evaluated in the EdSource report.
