5 Things We Learned From New Federal Study: Massive Growth of Charters, No Difference in Student Performance From Traditional Schools
A new report released on Wednesday by the National Center for Education Statistics has provided valuable data regarding the highly debated topic of school choice in the United States.
Politicians and advocates have been pushing for a halt in the establishment of new charter schools. This issue was one of the first K-12 topics brought up in the Democratic debates, although many candidates chose to avoid discussing it.
The report analyzed enrollment changes in traditional public schools, charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling trends over the past two decades. It also examined factors such as academic achievement, parental choice, and satisfaction.
One significant finding that is likely to provoke individuals from various educational backgrounds is the lack of significant academic difference between charter schools and traditional public schools, despite the charter sector experiencing a fivefold increase between 2000 and 2016.
Here are five key takeaways from the report:
1. A shift in the type of schools students are attending:
– The report revealed a decrease in the percentage of U.S. children attending their assigned public schools. From 1999 to 2016, there was a 5 percentage point drop, with attendance decreasing from 74 percent to 69 percent.
– In contrast, the enrollment in “chosen” public schools, which includes magnets, charters, and traditional district schools outside of a student’s assigned one, has seen a significant increase. Homeschooling has also become more prevalent. Enrollment in private schools, however, has remained relatively steady.
2. No significant difference in achievement between district and charter schools:
– Researchers examined the 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress and found no noteworthy difference, and sometimes no difference at all, in reading and math scores at the fourth and eighth-grade levels.
3. Greater diversity in charter schools:
– Charter schools have a higher population of black and Hispanic students compared to traditional public schools.
– Additionally, more charters are considered to be “high poverty,” with over 75 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, an indicator of poverty.
4. Decrease in safety concerns among students:
– Over the past decade, the percentage of students, both in public and private schools, who reported knowledge of a gang presence, hate-related graffiti, being called a “hate-related word,” or being bullied, have all decreased.
– Public school students were generally more likely to express safety concerns. Both types of schools showed an overall decline in safety issues, except for bullying in private schools, which experienced fluctuations throughout the study period.
5. Higher parental satisfaction in choice schools:
– According to data from 2016, parents of children in private schools were much more likely to report being “very satisfied” with the overall school experience and various aspects such as teachers, academic standards, discipline, and parent interaction. Homeschooling parents were not included in this data.
– Parents of children in “chosen” public schools also expressed higher satisfaction compared to those with children in assigned public schools, although the gap was not as significant as the difference between private and public schools.
In summary, the report provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of school choice in the United States. It highlights changes in school enrollment, academic achievement, diversity, safety concerns, and parental satisfaction.