Charter school operations and performance : evidence from California / Ron Zimmer ... [and others] ; prepared for the California Legislative Analyst's Office.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Zimmer, Ron W.

Rand Education (Institute)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Charter schools--California--Evaluation.

Charter schools.

Evaluation.

California.

Physical Description:

xxxii, 280 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA : Rand, 2003.

Summary:

The study represents a comprehensive study of accessibility, students achievement, governance, and operation of California's charter schools, drawing from survey data and case studies.

Contents:

Background: Charter Schools Nationally and in California 1

What We Know from Prior Research 5

Data Sources 8

How We Categorized Charter Schools 11

Conversion and Start-Up Charter Schools 12

Classroom-Based and Nonclassroom-Based Charter Schools 13

School Size 14

Independent and Dependent Charter Schools 15

Data Limitations 16

Budgetary and Time Constraints 17

How the Report Is Organized 17

Chapter 2 Students Served by Charter Schools / Derrick Chau, Dan McCaffrey, Ron Zimmer, Glenn Daley, Brian Gill 19

Access to Charter Schools 21

Student Admissions Processes 22

Focus of School Services 24

Characteristics of Students in Charter Schools 25

School-by-School Analysis 30

Chapter 3 Academic Outcomes / Richard Buddin, Ron Zimmer 37

School-Level Performance 39

Statewide Nonlongitudinally Linked Student-Level Data 44

Longitudinally Linked Student-Level Data 53

Competitive Effect of Charter Schools 57

School-Level Analysis of API Scores 60

Statewide Nonlongitudinal Student Data 60

Longitudinally Linked Student Data 61

Competitive Effects of Charter Schools 62

Chapter 4 Authorization, Governance, and Oversight of Charter Schools / Derrick Chau, Glenn Daley, Brian Gill 63

Authorization of Charter Schools 64

Description of Chartering Authorities 64

Development and Evaluation of Charter Petitions 66

The Outcomes of Charter Petitions 68

Closed or Revoked Charter Schools 70

Denied Charter Petitions 70

Governance of Charter Schools 71

Dependent and Independent Charter Schools 72

Legal Liability in Charter Schools 73

Charter School Autonomy 74

Oversight of Charter Schools 77

Characteristics of Chartering Authority Oversight of Charter Schools 78

Chartering Authority Actions Toward Charter Schools 79

Services Provided by Chartering Authorities 82

Authorization 82

Governance 83

Oversight 84

Services 84

Chapter 5 Charter School Finances and Facilities / Cathy Krop 85

Charter School Funding 85

Meeting Legislative Requirements 88

Participation in Categorical Aid Programs 91

Private Donations to Charter Schools 100

Charter School Expenditures 103

Facilities 106

Other Fiscal Challenges 112

Chapter 6 Academic Environments of Charter and Conventional Public Schools / Laura Hamilton 115

Professional Development 117

Chartering Authorities' Involvement in Professional Development 117

Teacher Participation in Professional Development 118

Curriculum and Instruction 122

Programs and Scheduling Modifications 122

Courses and Academic Program Requirements 125

Computers 128

Student Testing 129

Parent Involvement 133

Student Discipline 137

Chapter 7 Staffing in Charter and Conventional Public Schools / Cassandra Guarino 143

The Characteristics of Teachers 144

Teaching Credentials 144

Teaching Experience 147

The Characteristics of Principals 148

Credentials and Qualifications of Principals 149

Administrative and Teaching Experience 150

Working Conditions and Compensation of Teachers 152

Working Conditions and Compensation of Principals 153

The Composition of the Instructional Staff 154

Principals' Use and Perceptions of Control 154

Chapter 8 Special Education in Charter and Conventional Public Schools / Cassandra Guarino, Derrick Chau 161

Identification of Special Education Students 162

Special Education Service Delivery 164

The Use of Special Education Aides 167

Inclusion of Special Education Students in Assessments 168

Funding and Provision of Special Education Resources 169

Findings 175

Student Achievement 175

Accessibility 176

Authorization, Governance, and Oversight 177

Operation 178

Challenges 180

A. Research Methods 185

B. Charter and Conventional Public School Comparison Methods 199

C. Academic Outcomes 201.

Notes:

At bottom of t.p.: Rand Education.

"MR-1700-EDU"--P. [4] of cover.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 273-280).

ISBN:

0833033549

0833034146

OCLC:

52429623