Abstract: This report identifies the states with legislated limits on charter school growth and documents the impact these laws have on families seeking high quality public schools. While restrictions in 25 states and the District of Columbia create a negative effect on charter school expansion, state-imposed caps are found to be severely constraining charter school growth in 10 states. Nine states have reached have their caps as of January 2006: Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Rhode Island. Policy recommendations include: (1) never limit quality schools and authorizers; (2) include sunset provisions; (3) make new charter laws free of limits; and, (4) create a federal role for encouraging growth.
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