When measured against those public schools with similar demographic and geographic characteristics, charter schools produced slightly higher gains in math and reading over a one-year period, according to a new study Apples to Apples: An Evaluation of Charter Schools Serving General Student Populations released in July 2003. Nationwide, charter schools on average exceeded public school scores by 3 points on math tests and 2 points on reading exams. These gains are relatively modest but large enough to challenge the notion that charter schools suffer academically in comparison with traditional public schools.
In September 2003, the Center for Education Reform released a summary of 98 studies, dating back to 1995, that assess the impact of charter schools on students, teachers and communities. What the Research Reveals About Charter Schools provides data that show charter schools are effective in improving academic achievement, are chosen by higher proportions of disadvantaged and special needs students, are highly accountable to the students they serve, and are supported strongly by parents.
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