New analysis sheds light on how charter schools are making strides in leveling the academic playing field for students in low-income areas, suggesting a brighter future for these children in areas that don’t shy away from school choice.
The Progressive Policy Institute’s (PPI’s) report titled “Searching for the Tipping Point: Scaling Up Public School Choice Spurs Citywide Gains,” authored by educational equity advocate Tressa Pankovits, suggested cities with robust public charter school options for low-income families are seeing beneficial outcomes for all students.
Charter schools, according to the Georgia Department of Education, are publicly funded schools that operate “under the terms of a charter, or contract, with an authorizer, such as the state and local boards of education,” but receive flexibility in certain areas “in exchange for a higher degree of accountability for raising student achievement.”
“Our report belies the oft-heard but unfounded criticism that charters somehow drain legacy schools of the ‘best’ students and resources, to the detriment of those left behind,” Pankovits’ analysis states. “Evidently, the growth of enrollment in charter schools creates a positive competitive dynamic with the traditional district schools, which have to up their game to attract parents and students.”
