Charters and equity

A new report from the Walton Foundation finds charter schools on average receive less public money than traditional schools, reports Joy Resmovits for The Huffington Post. Yet many feel this funding gap isn't necessarily unfair, and the report's methodology masks fundamental differences between charter- and public-school populations. The report examined charter funding in 30 states and D.C., finding the disparity between public and charter funding grew 55 percent from 2007 to 2011. Most disparities stemmed from state and local revenue, and in 16 states widened as charter enrollment increased and district enrollment decreased, according to the report. The 2007 recession exacerbated disparities, with charters losing $902 per student -- 1.5 times state and local revenues cut from public schools. All states except Tennessee gave traditional public schools more money than charters, and D.C. had the largest disparity at $12,736. In 48 urban areas, traditional public schools received on average $4,352 more per pupil than charters. The report's authors frame this as an equity issue, asking, "When will charters see a reduction in the funding disparity? When will public school students experience resource equity?" The report's findings come after an expensive battle over charter school resources roiled New York City, the nation's largest school district.  More

Source:  Public Education News Blast

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Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is an education support organization that works as a collaborative partner in high-poverty communities.