Autonomy in Exchange for Accountability:  An Initial Study of Pennsylvania Charter Schools

Report Cover (79 KB PDF)

Table of Contents and Lists of Tables and Exhibits (76 KB PDF)

Chapter 1  Introduction (86 KB PDF)
 1.1 What Are Charter Schools?
 1.2 Objectives of the Evaluation
 1.3 Structure of the Report
 1.4 Challenges Confronting the Evaluation

Chapter 2  Methodology of the Study (94 KB PDF)
 2.1 Approach and Strategies for Data Collection
 2.2 Specific Methods for Data Collection
 2.3 Data Analyses and Reporting
 2.4 Limitations to the Evaluation

Chapter 3  A Snapshot of Pennsylvania's Charter Schools (1.1 MB PDF)
 3.1  Number of Charter Schools and Students
 3.2  Spatial Patterns in Pennsylvania Charter Schools
 3.3  Mission and Target Population
 3.4  Education Management Organizations
 3.5  Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 4  Charter School Start-Up: Resources and Challenges (130 KB PDF)
 4.1  Legal and Administrative Context
 4.2  The Charter Appeals Board
 4.3  Founders' Goals
 4.4  Founders' Organizational Resources
 4.5  Types of Individuals Involved in Charter Founding Coalitions
 4.6  Political Constraints and Opportunities
 4.7  Characteristics of Chartering Districts
 4.8  A Digression on the "Philadelphia Question"
 4.9  Summary

Chapter 5 Charter School Finance (135 KB PDF)
 5.1  Revenue Sources
 5.2  Expenditure Patterns
 5.3  Fiscal Viability
 5.4  Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 6  Student and Family Characteristics (74 KB PDF)
 6.1  Sampling of Students and Parents
 6.2  Description of Charter School Students and Families
 6.3  Reasons for Choosing Charter Schools, Responses from
        Sampled Students and Parents
 6.4  Awareness of School Mission
 6.5  Summary

Chapter 7  Teacher and Staff Characteristics (140 KB PDF)
 7.1  Description of Charter School Teachers and Staff
 7.2  Educational Background and Years of Experience of Pennsylvania
        Charter School Teachers and Staff
 7.3  Reasons to Seek Employment at a Charter School
 7.4  School Mission
 7.5  Summary

Chapter 8  Working Conditions, Professional Development and Levels of Satisfaction for Charter School Teachers (98 KB PDF)
 8.1  Working Conditions for Teachers and Staff and Levels of Satisfaction
 8.2  Initial Expectations and Current Experiences of Teachers and Staff
 8.3  Professional Development in Pennsylvania Charter Schools
 8.4  Teacher Induction Plans
 8.5  Turnover of Teachers and Staff in Pennsylvania Charter Schools
 8.6  Summary

Chapter 9  Innovations in Pennsylvania Charter Schools: Governance, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (231 KB PDF)
 9.1  A Framework for Thinking About Innovation
 9.2  Organization and Governance
 9.3  Curriculum and Instruction
 9.4  Conceptual Issues Related to Innovation
 9.5  District Impact and Transfer of Innovations
 9.6  Summary

Chapter 10  Special Education and Pennsylvania Charter Schools (152 KB PDF)
 10.1  Federal and State Legislative Requirements
 10.2  Pennsylvania Charter School Legislation and Special Education
 10.3  Pennsylvania Charter Schools and Special Education
 10.4  Related Survey Results
 10.5  Summary and Conclusion

Chapter 11  Performance Accountability: An Analysis of Student Achievement in Charter Schools (811 KB PDF)
 11.1  Data and Methods
 11.2  Limitations to the Analysis
 11.3  Findings from the Data
 11.4  Recommendations for Improving the Evaluability of Pennsylvania Charter Schools
 11.5  Summary and Conclusion

 Chapter 12  Other Indicators of School Quality (213 KB PDF)
 12.1  Data and Methods
 12.2  Subjective Ratings of Student Performance
 12.3  Market Accountability
 12.4  Attendance and Discipline
 12.5  Other Attributes of School Environment
 12.6  Comparisons with National Norms
 12.7  Summary

Chapter 13  Summary of Findings for Further Consideration (108 KB PDF)
 13.1  Summary of Main Findings
 13.2  Research and Evaluation Issues for Further Consideration
 13.3  Policy Issues for Further Consideration

References (73 KB PDF)

Appendices

Appendix A	Evaluations Questions (54 KB PDF)
Appendix B-1	Summary of Charter School Survey Results from Teachers/ Staff, 1998/99 (84 KB PDF)
Appendix B-2	Summary of Charter School Survey Results from Teachers/ Staff, 1999/00 (85 KB PDF)
Appendix B-3	Summary of Charter School Survey Results from Students, 1998/99 (58 KB PDF)
Appendix B-4	Summary of Charter School Survey Results from Students, 1999/00 (56 KB PDF)
Appendix B-5	Summary of Charter School Survey Results from Parents, 1998/99 (29 KB PDF)
Appendix B-6	Summary of Charter School Survey Results from Parents, 1999/00 (28 KB PDF)
Appendix B-7	Summary of School Climate Survey Results from Teachers/ Staff, 1999/00 (140 KB PDF)
Appendix B-8	Summary of School Climate School Survey Results from Students, 1999/00 (98 KB PDF)
Appendix C	Financial Tables (19 KB PDF)
Appendix D	Results on Student Achievement (241 KB PDF)