Abstract: The General Accounting Office (GAO) is required by Congress to evaluate D.C.'s two charter school authorizers -- the Board of Education (BOE), which has an Office of Charter Schools responsible for oversight, and the independent Public Charter School Board (PCSB). Examining the authorizers' resources, oversight practices, and actions taken once charter schools close, GAO researchers found that the PCSB, with its larger staff and funding, has done a much better job at focusing attention on schools that need the greatest assistance. The PCSB also granted more flexibility to well-managed schools. The BOE failed to regularly review reports from its charter school monitoring staff. The study concludes with a set of recommendations, including that the BOE Office of Charter Schools implement a risk-based oversight system and that the authorizing bodies jointly establish a process to guide their actions after schools close.
Resource Type: Information for Charter Authorizers, Federal Research & Reports Resource Format: PDF File Target Audience: Policy Makers, Researchers Resource Topic: Legislation & Policy, Accountability, Monitoring & Oversight
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