Sign up for our newsletter

Statement by CER President Jeanne Allen on Confirmation of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts (2005)

September 29, 2005. As the nation’s leading education reform authority, CER helps translate ideas into action and much of that action over time has had legal implications that have reached the High Court.

Union Study Latest Attack in Long-Time Battle Against Charter Schools (2005)

March 30, 2005. Charter school leaders across the country are dismissing a report to be released this week by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) regarding charter school achievement.

Powerful union leaders who have long been opposed to charter schools both fund EPI and serve as members of the group’s board of directors.

Legal Summary of U.S. Supreme Court Decision: Zelman V. Simmons-Harris, 436 U.S.

On June 27, 2002, the United States Supreme Court ruled that that the state of Ohio was within its constitutional power to enact a school choice program for Cleveland’s children. This is a summary of that decision.

GAO Report on Privately Managed Schools is Limited in Scope and Findings (2003)

November 5, 2003. CER reveals problems with a report recently released by the General Accounting Office titled “Comparison of Achievement Results for Students Attending Privately Managed and Traditional Schools in Six Cities.”

However, the GAO does note the importance of a parent’s use of information to make sound choices. The key underlying principle continues to be that school choice promotes competition, which is beneficial to all schools whether privately managed or traditionally funded.

National Charter Schools Week: National and Local Activities (2003)

April 24, 2003.  A list of events being held April 28-May 2 to celebrate charter schools and their successes and contributions to children, families, and communities.

Charter School Success Rates Extremely High (2002)

October 15, 2002. A new report released today by the Center for Education Reform (CER) details the continued success of charter schools with a focus on accountability as the key difference between charter schools and their district counterparts.

Today’s report, titled, “Charter School Closures: The Opportunity for Accountability,” identifies the closures and provides insights into the operational challenges of this growing reform.

Growth in Charter Schools Reflects Increasing Demands for Choices (2002)

September 17, 2002. Marking an increase of approximately 14 percent this year (393 schools), there are now about 2,700 charter schools operating in 36 states and the District of Columbia.

New Study Inconclusive At Best– Previous Research Counters Brookings Findings (2002)

September 3, 2002. A Brookings study finds that charter schools score below traditional public schools, but cautions that “with the data at hand, it is impossible to tell whether charter school test scores reflect the quality of education at the schools.”

Special CER Back-to-School Bulletin: The 2002 SAT Scores

August 27, 2002.  Newswire: Vol. 4, No. 35.   American children have begun going back to school, and with the advent of this important ritual, CER is taking a close look at key issues facing education.  This week, a look at the SAT scores and a question: does it mean anything anymore?

2002 PDK/Gallup Poll: Skewed Questions Continue to Dictate Responses

August 20, 2002. The Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll seeks to assess Americans’ views on education issues, such as grading schools, charter schools, testing and accountability, teacher qualifications, and more. However, the survey questions are skewed and therefore do not represent public sentiment towards education reforms.