Today, approximately 340 public charter schools educate 105,000 Ohio students. Authored by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) at Stanford University, this report contains a rigorous analysis of the state’s charter schools using data from 2013-14 through 2016-17. The analysis compares charter students’ academic progress in math and reading to very similar students attending district schools to evaluate charter impacts.
Among other findings, the study reveals that pupils attending brick-and-mortar charters make significant progress in reading, and African American charter students enjoy significant gains in both reading and math. Based on a 180-day school year, the average gain for black charter students is equivalent to 59 additional days of learning in reading and 24 extra days in math. Comprising about one-third of the state’s charter sector, students attending online charter schools lose ground in both subject areas. Overall sector performance remains mixed, with modestly negative results in math and no significant effects in reading.
This report follows-up on a 2014 CREDO analysis of Ohio charter schools. For further commentary on CREDO’s findings, please view our press release and blog post.
