A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR RELEASE
February 11, 2000

Contact:
David Thomas
(202) 401-1579

CHARTER SCHOOLS GET BOOST FROM FEDERAL START-UP FUNDS

Nationwide, more than a quarter-million students are attending some 1,700 charter schools and demand for these schools remains high with seven in 10 charter schools reporting a waiting list.

According to the fourth-year report on The National Study of Charter Schools, produced by the department's Office of Educational Research and Improvement, the number of students in charter schools increased in 1999 by nearly 90,000, while an additional 421 charter schools opened during the same period.

"Under President Clinton' s leadership, we have provided the federal support needed to meet the goal of 3000 charter schools by 2002," said U.S. Education Secretary Richard W. Riley. "Public charter schools are providing parents and students with the choice they want and deserve."

According to the report, fewer new charter schools report that lack of start-up funding was a major difficulty. And while this problem is still the number one challenge facing charter schools, federal funds are making a difference. For those schools that opened in 1999, 39 percent cited start-up funds as a problem, down from 59 percent in 1996.

Thirty-six states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have legislation permitting charter schools, which are public schools freed from some or all state and local regulations, in exchange for achieving the goals set out in the charter, including greater accountability for student success.

Overall, the study found that these schools are being held accountable and that they have the flexibility to make independent decisions about educational and management issues. For the most part, they also serve a diverse set of students, in relatively small schools, with lower student to teacher ratio and better access to computers compared to the average in all public schools.

The report states that the addition of 421 charter schools in 1999 continues a trend and represents the largest yearly increase.

"We can see that there is a continued need for our support of these schools, which offer innovative approaches to effective education of our students," Riley said. "That's why the president's FY 2001 budget proposes $175 million -- a $30 million increase -- to further support the development of charter schools."

Other findings of the report include:

• Seven of 10 charter schools are newly created, with a median enrollment of 128 students;
• Most charter schools seek an alternative vision of schooling and one-quarter are founded to serve special populations of students;
• The number of students in charter schools increased in the 1998-99 school year by nearly 90,000 to more than 250,000 students, representing 0.8 percent of all public school students in the 27 states with open charter schools during the same period;
• Twenty-seven charter schools closed during the 1998-99 school year. Since the first charter school opened in 1992, a total of 59 - nearly 4 percent of all that have ever opened - have closed;
• More than 9 of 10 charter schools were monitored for accountability in terms of school finance; nearly 9 of 10 for student achievement and for compliance with regulations; more than 8 of 10 for student attendance; and more than 6 of 10 for instructional practices.

The study is the final in a four-year research program designed to document and analyze the charter school movement. Future reports will address broad policy issues regarding the charter school movement, including its potential effects on America's system of public education and student achievement.

The study was conducted for the Education Department by RPP International of Emeryville, Calif. Copies are available by calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS (1-877-433-7827) and online at www.uscharterschools.org/.

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