Executive Summary
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Full Report
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Charter schools offer students alternative and diverse educational programs, with the goal of improving academic achievement. The intention behind this new form of public schooling is that by providing further autonomy to schools, they can pursue innovative teaching practices and create a diversity of school options from which parents can choose. During the 5 years, 19 charters were granted. Four schools have since closed and 2 converted to magnet schools.
The Evaluation Center was asked by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) to evaluate the charter schools and the charter school initiative in Connecticut. While we have not been charged with the task of evaluating individual schools, we will collect a large amount of school-specific data from the operating schools that we visit. In evaluating the overall initiative, we will collect data and information from charter schools, Department of Education officials, as well as representatives from local districts. This particular evaluation was started in September 1997 and concluded in September 2002.
