New data available this week from Standard & Poor's shows that charter schools sponsored by Central Michigan University have made strong academic gains over the past three years. CMU is the largest university charter sponsor in the country, overseeing a quarter of Michigan's 202 charter schools. The data-rich reports show that 40 percent of CMU-authorized charter schools outperformed their local districts on state tests this year, up from 25 percent last year. And 70 percent of those schools saw MEAP improvement in half or more subject areas over the past year. Two lessons: 1) good authorizing (CMU is rightfully considered among the best charter sponsors in the land) really matters. 2) Good trend data - skillfully analyzed, easily accessible, and rigorously verified - is essential to supporting all such claims.
"Standard & Poor's reports demonstrate growth at schools chartered by CMU," press release from CMU Charter Schools Office, May 26, 2004