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Charter Connection

All About Charter Schools
CER Quick Facts

• There are more than 5,000 charter schools serving more than 1.5 million children across the country. (Fall, 2009.) Visit the National Charter School Directory for a complete searchable listing and website links.

• Charters schools are growing at a rapid pace. For the 2009-2010 school year, 419 new charter schools opened in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Find a charter schools in your state at www.charterschoolsearch.com.

• Today, 39 states and the District of Columbia have charter school laws in place.

• Of those 40 laws, only 13 have strong laws that do not require significant revisions. Get more information on states' charter law grade, ranking at analysis at www.charterschoolresearch.com

• Charter schools across the United States are funded at 61 percent of their district counterparts. On average, charter schools are funded at $6,585 per pupil compared to $10,771 per pupil at conventional district public schools.

• There is a direct correlation between strong laws and successful charter schools. Of those states with strong laws, 65 percent show positive achievement gains; of the weak states, only two demonstrate the same level of progress. CER's Accountability Report 2009: Charter Schools provides an indepth state-by-state review of charter school achievement and accountability.

• Charter School Closures: Of the over 5,250 charter schools that have ever opened, 657 have closed since 1992.
  - 41 percent of the nation's charter closures resulted from financial deficiencies caused by either low student enrollment or inequitable funding
  - 27 percent were closed for mismanagement.
  - 14 percent were closed for poor academic performance.

• A 2004 report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Education found that charter schools are smaller than conventional public schools and serve a disproportionate and increasing number of poor and minority students. CER's Annual Survey of America's Charter Schools reports similar findings.

• A 2003 national report by the Brookings Institution shows that test scores at charter schools are "rising sharply" and out-gaining conventional schools.

• A December 2004 Harvard University study finds that charter school students are more likely to be proficient in reading and math than students in neighboring conventional schools. The greatest achievement gains can be seen among African American, Hispanic, or low-income students.

• Charter schools that have been open for significant periods of time boast even higher achievement rates; Harvard found that charter schools that have been operating for more than 5 years outpace conventional schools by as much as 15 percent.

Where Can I Find Charter Schools?

Go to www.yourcharterschool.com for school-by-school and state-by-state listings of operating and approved charters schools around the nation, complete with school profiles and links to statistics, research and resources.

Get The FAQs on Charter Schools

For more information on what charter schools are and how they work, check our Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Charter Schools.

For all the latest news, research and analysis, go to Issues: Charter Connection.