The PA Charter Performance Center improves the quality of education, especially for at-risk students, by producing unbiased, accurate and timely information that will build momentum for the adoption of sound state-level charter school policy.
Charter schools are educating a growing share of Pennsylvania’s K-12 students. In 2021, 146,000 students attended a Pennsylvania charter school, an astonishing 85% increase in just ten years. Low-income and at-risk students are more likely than other students to enroll in charters. While only 16% of district schools are located in high poverty areas, 58% of brick and mortar charter schools are operating in high poverty census tracts. This raises significant equity issues about who attends charters and how are they doing.
While enrollment is growing, student learning is not keeping pace. The 2022 state education assessments show that 83% of 3rd through 8th grade charter students failed their Math PSSA and 62% failed English Language Arts. Over two-thirds of 11th graders attending charter schools failed the Algebra Keystone Exam and 55% failed Literature. More concerning is the fact that all cyber charter schools are currently performing in the lowest 5% of all schools in the state.
Absent unbiased, accessible information, there can be no accountability to boost charter school performance or close poorly performing operators. The Center seeks to close this gap by delivering reliable information on school performance for charters and district run schools to advance the policy conversation in Harrisburg and help parents make the best decisions for their children.
The work of the Center is made possible by a generous donation from the Ivywood Foundation.
MOST RECENT RESEARCH
- Letter to the PA Senate on Cyber Charter Schools (2024)
- Philadelphia Charter School Students Not Immune to Consequences of State Underfunding
- Quarter Billion Dollar Cyber Surplus (2023)
- The Unfulfilled Charter School Promise (2023)
- PA Disconnect in Cyber Charter Oversight and Funding (2022)
- A New Look at Cyber Charter Fund Balances (2021)
- Surprising Outcomes for Students in Charter Schools in New Orleans (2021)
(scroll down for additional research materials)
Related Tools
View More ToolsPA Charter Performance Center Advisory Board
PA Charter Performance Center Advisory Board:
- Veronica Brooks-Uy, Interim VP of Policy, National Association of Charter School Authorizers
- Esther Bush, President and CEO, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh
- Sarah Cohodes, Associate Professor of Economics and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University
- Sharif El-Mekki, Director, Center for Black Educator Development
- Erica Frankenberg, Professor of Education, Penn State College of Education
- Ed Fuller, Director of the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy Analysis, Penn State University
- Brian Gill, Senior Fellow and Director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Educational Laboratory, Mathematica
- Christina Grant, Chief of Charter School and Innovation, PSD Charter School Office
- Alyssa Hopkins, School Development Manager, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
- TerryAnn Hudson-Mitchell, charter school parent
- David Lapp, Director of Policy Research, Research for Action
- Colin Miller, Vice President, Government Affairs, California Charter School Association
- Susie Miller Carello, Executive Director, SUNY Charter Schools Institute
- Kathy Schultz, Dean of the School of Education, University of Colorado – Boulder
- Rogers Smith, Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania
- Heather Wilkes, charter school parent
Charter School Accountability
Performance Audit for 2014 Renewal Seeking Charter Schools
PCCY identifies barriers to enrollment among 10 Philadelphia Charter schools up for renewal.
Click here to download the report.
PCCY Recommendations to Improve Charter School Accountability
PCCY analysis finds several improvements that School District of Philadelphia can make to improve accountability of city charter schools.
Click here to download the report.
PCCY Brief on Charter School Law
Click here to download the report.
PCCY Testimony Regarding Charters
Testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission: Charter Renewals – April 18, 2014 Click here
Testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission: Proposed Philadelphia School District Charter School Authorizing Policy – March 19, 2014 Click here
Testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission: Proposed Philadelphia School District Charter School Authorizing Policy – March 7, 2014 Click here
Chart: Charter School Tuition Grows while Reimbursements Disappear
Download this chart to share on social media to show how Philadelphia charter school tuition continues to increase, while state reimbursement has disappeared.
Source: PA Auditor General’s report: Pennsylvania Charter School Accountability and Transparency: Time for a Tune-Up
Click here to read the report.
Downloads
Learn MoreChecklist for High Quality Charter School Legislation
Children First Testimony Regarding Charter Schools
Testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission: Charter School Applications – April 28, 2016. Click here
Testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission: Charter School Applications – April 28, 2016. Click here
Testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission: Charter School Applications – February 18, 2015: Click here
Testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission: Charter Renewals – April 18, 2014: Click here
Testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission: Proposed Philadelphia School District Charter School Authorizing Policy – March 19, 2014: Click here
Testimony to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission: Proposed Philadelphia School District Charter School Authorizing Policy – March 7, 2014: Click here