Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Charter School Performance Comparable to Other Public Schools; Stronger Accountability Needed

Report 05-21, April 2005

View Report

Report Summary

  • On average, charter school students are academically behind when they enter their charter school compared to students remaining in traditional public schools. For this reason charter school students are slightly less likely to meet grade-level standards compared to students in other public schools.
  • Most charter school students achieve comparable learning gains in math and reading as similar students in traditional public schools. However, students who are furthest behind make slightly more progress in charter high schools than do students in traditional public high schools.
  • Charter schools vary widely in their performance. Successful charter schools exhibit many of the same characteristics long associated with successful schools, including setting high academic expectations, strong instructional leadership, and frequent progress monitoring.
  • Many charter schools' contracts and annual reports do not include the information needed to hold them fully accountable for student performance.

Related Reports
  1. Steps Taken to Improve Charter School Financial Management and Performance Accountability; Additional Action Needed
    Report 08-04 January 2008
  2. Charter School Review Technical Report
    Report 05-22 April 2005
  3. Charter School Application Requirements Are Reasonable; Financial Management Problematic
    Report 05-11 March 2005
  4. Progress Report: K-12 Accountability System and Student Achievement Improved, But Challenges Remain
    Report 04-41 June 2004
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
education, school districts, best financial management practice, student performance, school choice, school finance, academic accountability, charter proposal, charter application, financial deficit, charter contract, school closing, charter appeals, performance outcomes, annual reports, teacher quality, baseline performance, fund balance, educational management organization, capital outlay, enrollment projections, financial management, cost reporting, performance reviews, schools, education, Florida schools, school improvement, school grades, colleges, program funding, elementary schools, educational finance, Education K-12, school performance, students, grading criteria, FCAT, achievement levels, school boards, education accountability, A+ Plan, public education, No Child Left Behind, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, student achievement, adequate yearly progress, learning gains, school grades, sunshine state standards