ASU's Morrison Institute Conducts National Research on Charter Schools

A just released report by Arizona State University (ASU), Charter School Authorizing: Are States Making the Grade? examines 23 states and the District of Columbia to determine how supportive they are of charter schools, how good a job their authorizers are doing, and how policy makers could strengthen their states' charter programs.

In the first major study ever undertaken of the quality of charter school authorizing, fifteen states earned B- or better grades for their authorizers' work but just four received similar marks for the policy environment within which charter schools and authorizers function. Massachusetts and Texas led the pack while California, Pennsylvania and New Mexico brought up the rear.

And yes, education is most definitely an economic development issue. It's important from a workforce readiness standpoint and as an important community amenity making an area attractive for economic development. Charter schools are an innovation that many businesses are supporting, therefore it is important to know how effective these new institutions are.

Download the report here.