Cities with high charter school enrollment have consistently improved achievement for low-income students, a new report from center-left think tank the Progressive Policy Institute found. Contrary to choice-skeptical talking points, charter schools breed innovation and push local public schools to improve as well, according to the report.
"The data analyzed in this study are conclusive: All 10 U.S. cities with 33% or higher enrollment in public charter and charter-like schools…uniformly narrowed gaps in academic outcomes between low-income students and all students statewide over the past decade," the report, published this month, reads. "The data further suggest that this gapclosure effect increases as local charter enrollment share increases."
