Long Waiting Lists for Texas' Public Charter Schools Put Pressure on Cap

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/09/03/02charter.h28.html

Analysis from the Texas Public Policy Foundation finds that at least 16,810 students were on waiting lists at Texas public charters last school year. That figure, based on a survey of schools, includes data from about half the state's "open enrollment" public charter schools, which serve a majority of Texas public charter students, plus most of the state’s 19 university-operated public charter campuses. Open-enrollment public charters are considered independent school districts and can have multiple campuses, the report says. Because just one-half of the schools (169), serving some 49,000 student, responded to the survey, the actual waiting list total is likely to be higher, said Brooke Dollens Terry, a policy analyst for the organization. Texas law sets a limit of 215 open-enrollment public charters. The state has 210 now, and analysts say the last five slots may be filled this fall. “In Texas and nationwide, the demand to attend a charter school far outweighs the supply,” the report stated. “The Texas legislature has unnecessarily prevented charters from operating in a free market and should eliminate the cap.”

Source: Education Week (subscription required)
Date: 08/29/2008