SURVEY OF CHARTER SCHOOLS 1998-1999

DIVERSE GROUPS OPERATE CHARTER SCHOOLS 

        A wide range of individuals and organizations apply for and manage charter schools (Figure 8). Not surprisingly, those who stand to gain the most from introducing new ideas to public schools are the ones applying for and operating charter schools: parents (18 percent), and teachers (16 percent). 

        Note: While non-profits made up 39 per-cent of charter applicants/operators, that is most likely because applicants — including teachers and parents — often obtain nonprofit status for their applying entity. That category also includes a growing group of civic and community-based groups that have worked with children, such as the Urban League and Boys & Girls Clubs. 

        Finally, one interesting note on public schools: the 21 percent of respondents who marked “public school” were responding to how they viewed themselves, not who started them. Normally, teachers and parents who started a school also marked “public school” to signify how they now view their charter as the operator. 

Figure 8: Applicants/Operators

Nonprofits 39%
Public schools     21% 
Parents    18% 
Teachers    16% 
Community groups    9% 
For-profits    9% 
Private schools    3% 
Other    3% 
Universities/colleges    1% 
Teacher unions     0.3%

(287 schools responding)

Note: Write-in responses for “Other” included a retired public school administrator, a university professor and other individuals.

· · ·

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.