PPI - Radically Pragmatic
  • Donate
Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Locations
    • Careers
  • People
  • Projects
  • Our Work
  • Events
  • Donate

Our Work

Manno for Philanthropy Daily: The Authorizer: What Donors Should Know About Evaluating Charter Schools

  • November 21, 2024
  • Bruno Manno

Over the past few decades, donors have poured millions of dollars into improving K-12 schooling by creating a new sector of public charter schools of choice that are accountable for results. One analysis calculates that 11,827 foundations have provided financial support to nonprofits in the charter schools category—money given not just through traditional grants but through program-related investments and social impact funds.

These donors—and charter supporters in general—have often been derided for their efforts. So has it been worth all the hassle and wrath directed at them? In short, yes. (Last week, I summarized research studies that show the salutary effect charter schools have on closing the achievement gap, reducing inequality between richer and poor students, and lifting the performance of entire school districts.) As economists Douglas Harris and Feng Chen write, “Charter school laws have been arguably the most influential school reform efforts of the past several decades.”

Since the first law creating these schools was passed in 1991, we’ve learned much about their positive impact on students, the traditional K-12 system, and the communities where they exist. I would summarize the three most important lessons like this:

  1. Charter schools reduce academic inequality by closing student achievement gaps.
  2. Charter schools raise the overall quality of public schools.
  3. Because they improve the quality of K-12 public schools, creating more charter schools reduces inequality in America.

These three lessons create what I call the virtuous improvement cycle of charter schools.

Read more in Philanthropy Daily. 

Related Work

Op-Ed  |  June 5, 2025

Manno for Fusion Magazine: A Plan for Prudence

  • Bruno Manno
In the News  |  June 3, 2025

Kahlenberg in CBS News: Colleges are slightly less diverse as admissions officers seek ways to adapt post-affirmative action

  • Richard D. Kahlenberg
Op-Ed  |  June 2, 2025

Manno for Forbes: Microschools Go Macro And Provide More Learning Choices For Families

  • Bruno Manno
Press Release  |  May 23, 2025

PPI Statement: Supreme Court Decision is a Victory for Public Education

  • Will Marshall
Podcast  |  May 20, 2025

Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce, ft. Hans Meeder

  • Bruno Manno
Op-Ed  |  May 20, 2025

Kahlenberg for American Affairs: Renewing the Democratic Party

  • Richard D. Kahlenberg
  • Never miss an update:

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
PPI Logo
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Donate
  • Careers
  • © 2025 Progressive Policy Institute. All Rights Reserved.
  • |
  • Privacy Policy
  • |
  • Privacy Settings