Abstract: This study examines a sample of 1,182 charter schools (87 percent of charters operating in 2001-02) and categorizes them into five categories based on their curricular approaches: 1) general: includes "conversion" schools (29 percent of schools in sample); 2) progressive: schools that focus on individual student development approaches (29 percent); 3) traditional: schools emphasizing a "back-to-basics" approach; 4) vocational: schools that equip students to transition from school to work (12 percent); and, 5) alternative delivery: schools that provide most instruction outside a traditional bricks-and-mortar building, e.g., virtual schools (6 percent). The author finds three-quarters of charters do not target a specific student population for enrollment, while 26 percent serve students with specific needs or attributes. The report provides demographic information and takes an initial look at performance by type.
Resource Type: Case Studies/Evaluations Resource Format: PDF File Target Audience: Authorizers, Policy Makers, Researchers Resource Topic: Accountability, Effectiveness of Charter Schools
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