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Researchers Question Charter School Study’s Methods (2004)

Members of the research community express dismay over the prominent, largely uncritical coverage by The New York Times to a study of charter schools by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

National Charter Schools Week Action Kit (2004)

A week-long agenda of suggested themes and activities for charter schools during National Charter Schools Week.

Charter Schools Today: Statistics, Stories, and Insights (2004)

A compilation of CER’s National Charter School Data, Annual Survey America’s Charter Schools, Achievement Against All Odds, and Charter School Closure Data.

American Education Week Toolkit (2005)

A notice to all charter school leaders to join the celebration for the 84th annual American Education Week with suggested themes, activities, and ways to get the message out.

National Charter Schools Directory: New Schools Supplement (2005)

This new resource is provided as a supplement to CER’s National Charter School Directory due to the spectacular growth of the charter school movement. Because of demand for charter school information, we closed the publication with data as of April 2005.

Las Grandes Escuelas No Nacen, Se Hacen (2004)

A spanish version of CER’s charter school brochure “Great Schools Are Made, Not Born”

Monthly Letter to Friends: A Gala Celebration of Ten Years of Progress

(Winter 2004. No. 82-83.) Special Anniversary Issue offers highlights of The Center for Education Reform’s 10th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C. held on October 29, 2003.

Charter Schools Today: A Record of Success (2003)

Both opponents and proponents of schools of choice agree that charter schools must be held accountable, and as the following research shows, charter schools are being measured and are measuring up.

In 24 states that offer good data, charters have made notable gains, particularly in serving a wide spectrum of students. In addition to serving “average” populations, charters are serving exceptionally well children of color, children with special needs and huge numbers of poor children. More importantly, parents of these students report high satisfaction with the education their children are finally receiving.

What The Research Reveals About Charter Schools (2003)

September 2003. This third edition of What The Research Reveals contains all report summaries from the first two editions, but adds overviews of major research published during the past two years. The result? 88 major reports show charter schools are improving education for America’s kids.

Nine Lies About School Choice (2003)

December 2003.  Empirical and anecdotal evidence showing that school choice is equitable, desired, and works exists. Nine Lies addresses the nine most prominent falsehoods – lies – that still exist today despite evidence that has accumulated in ten years.

Myths addressed:

1) Choice will destroy the American public school tradition, siphoning off needed funds and decreasing quality in public schools while leading to segregation and division.
2) Choice will leave the poor behind in the worst schools.
3) Extremists such as the Ku Klux Klan, religious cults, or other radical groups will start schools.
4) Allowing public funds to be used for tuition at religious schools is unconstitutional.
5) Private schools are largely unregulated and therefore not accountable to the public.
6) Accepting public funds would make private schools vulnerable to intrusive government regulation.
7) Vouchers don’t cover the cost of private schools. Poor families will be left behind.
8) There are neither enough tuition scholarships nor enough seats in private schools for more students.
9) There is no evidence that school choice works.