SURVEY OF CHARTER SCHOOLS 1998-1999

MOST CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE START-UPS

        More than three-quarters of survey respondents indicated that their charter schools are start-up schools (Figure 3), likely reflecting the reality that it often is easier to start from scratch than to trans-form an existing culture. This conclusion is supported by trend data, which show that the number of charter school start-ups is growing, while the number of charter school conversions — existing public or private schools that become charter schools — is declining (Figure 4). 

        Our survey found that a higher percentage of private schools than public schools converted to charter schools. This finding, however, may be an anomaly. Only nine states allow private schools to convert to charters so either these states had a surge of conversions or a disproportionate number of private school conversions responded.

Figure 3:  Charter School Types 

Start-ups   

 77% 

Private school conversions   

 11% 

Public school conversions   

 9% 

Other public program conversions   

 3% 

(273 schools responding) 

Figure 4: Trend Data on Charter School Types

 

U.S. Department of 
Education, May 1997 

U.S. Department of 
Education, May 1998 

CER
1999

Start-ups

56%

70%

77%

Private school conversions

11%

11%

11%

Public school conversions

32%

19%

9%

Other program conversions

   

3%

· · ·

Link to Excerpts of Charter Schools Today Report, including:

  • Table of Contents

  • Chapter 5: Survey of Charter Schools 1998-1999

Also: Selected Response From Individual Charter Schools:
        Successes
        Challenges
        Growth and Future Plans
        Academic and Other Programs
        Additional Comments

· · ·

Survey of Charter Schools 1998-1999 is part of Charter Schools Today: Changing the Face of American Education. The entire report is available for $19.95 + $3.00 shipping and handling. Order your copy on our publications page, or by calling CER at (202) 822-9000.

Charter Schools Today: Changing the Face of American Education is published by The Center for Education Reform [CER] a national, independent, non-profit advocacy organization founded in 1993 to provide support and guidance to individuals, community and civic groups, policymakers and others who are working to bring fundamental reforms to their schools. For more information on charter school efforts, call CER at (202) 822-9000, or visit our Charter School Library.