A new analysis of laws shows which states have what it takes to win.
The winners in the Race to the Top for charter school growth have been identified in a new report released today by the Center for Education Reform (CER). Only the District of Columbia, Minnesota and California won top marks, earning an "A" for strong, rigorous charter laws.
Race to the Top for Charter Schools: 2009 Ranking and Scorecard finds that the most important factors influencing the creation of a high number of successful charter schools are independent authorizing entities, fiscal equity and operational independence.
"The real Race to the Top for charters is not a sprint to see who can lift the cap first, but a triathlon of many events that requires the endurance of a comprehensive law," says CER president Jeanne Allen. "We applaud the vocal support for charter schools coming from Education Secretary Arne Duncan, but now know that the best way to spend education stimulus funding is to pay more attention to the real qualitative components that make up great charter school laws and great charter schools."
Only 14 out of 41 laws earned a grade of "B" or higher, and most received a "C" or below for the many obstacles built into their laws that hamper charter growth.
The District of Columbia takes over the top spot in the 2009 charter law scorecard for having fully implemented the most important qualitative components necessary for an effective charter law. More than one-third of Washington, DC's public school students attend charter schools, a byproduct of having a strong law.
The charter school laws scorecard and ranking has been produced annually by the Center for Education Reform since 1996 and is used widely by lawmakers, the media and parents in assessing and developing policies to guide the development of charter schools.
"We have said from the beginning that laws matter. Charter schools have had the largest impact on public education of any single public education reform," says Jeanne Allen. "Only with strong charter school laws will America ever reach the top in the race for excellent student achievement."
Link here to CER's Race to the Top for Charter Schools: 2009 Ranking and Scorecard. For more information contact Jonathan Oglesby at (800) 521-2118 or jonathan@edreform.com.
Link here for more on the federal Race to the Top initiative.
Link here for more on charter school laws.
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The Center for Education Reform drives the creation of better educational opportunities for all children. CER changes laws, minds and cultures to allow good schools to flourish.
