First established in Minnesota in 1991, there are about 3,000 charter schools in 41 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. By 2004, Texas had awarded charters to 232 schools, though only 188 were still operating.
Proponents of ‘school choice’ have touted charter schools as a cure-all for public education. They say charter schools will attract more and better teachers by dropping certification requirements and improve traditional public schools through competition.
A Dismal Record in Texas
Since the founding of Texas’ first charter schools in 1995, however, the number of gross failures in the system has far outweighed its handful of successes. The charter school system in Texas has been plagued with poor academic performance, a lack of accountability, substandard conditions and irregular financial practices. As a result, the Texas charter-school system has trapped many students in situations that range from dismal to dangerous. It has also wasted huge sums of taxpayer money.
In February 2004, for example, an Austin school became the first charter to declare bankruptcy. The Texas Education Agency had provided at least $7.5 million to the school. Much of that money went to educate students from low-income families. A large chunk of that money, however, paid for luxury hotels, vehicles and entertainment for the school’s administrators.
Studies Find Deeply Flawed Charter System
State and national studies have called into question the effectiveness of charter schools. A U.S. Department of Education report in 2004 found that charter schools were less likely to meet state performance standards than were traditional public schools. According to the report, 98 percent of Texas public schools met state performance requirements in 2002, while just 66 percent of the state’s charter schools did. The gap between performance by charter and public school remained wide even when researchers adjusted the data for race and poverty. A November 2004 report from the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission said that the Texas Education Agency could not ensure that charter schools effectively educate students or properly use state funds.
Texas Freedom Network – Charter Schools
Texas Constitution
Education Code
Chapter 12 – Charter Schools
Bill Moyers – Charter Schools: A Marketplace for Profits or Ideas?
Bill Moyers – How Hedge Funders Built the Pro-Charter Political Network
Raise Your Hand Texas – Texas Charter Schools: Do You Really Know Them?
Statesman – Lawmakers say they aim to ensure quality, increase access to charter schools
Private, charter school funding debate expected to return in 2017
Houston Chronicle – TEA to launch probe of Harmony charter schools
Texas Observer – Once Again, State Rejects Charter School Connected to Idaho Real Estate Group
Texas Observer – New Report Challenges Claims Charters Do More With Less
The Nation – Unions Enter the World of Online Charter Schools
City Lab – Do Charter Schools With Extreme Disciplinary Measures Cluster in Black Communities?
Truth Out – Largest Charter School Chain in LA Raises Millions in Dark Money to Fight Union Drive
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