National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

GROWTH AND QUALITY IN THE CHARTER SCHOOL MOVEMENT:

2007 DASHBOARD

INDICATORS	DATA
Students
# Charter School Students	1,144,758
% Charter Students: Minority	58% (2004-05)
% Charter Students: Eligible for Free and Reduced-Price Lunch	52% (2004-05)
% Charter School Students: Special Education	11% (2003-04)
% Charter Schools Students: English Language Learners	12% (2003-04)
Growth
# of Charter Schools	4,046
# of New Charters Opening in 2006-07 School Year	About 400
% Increase in # of Charters from Previous Year	12%
Charter Student Market Share (% of K-12 Public School Students in U.S.)	2%
Highest Market Share in Single State	8% (Arizona)
Highest Market Share in Single City	57% (New Orleans)
Share of Charter Schools Located in Top Three States	38%
Performance and Accountability
% Charter Schools Making AYP	64% (73% in Non-Charters)
# of States Where % of Charters Making AYP Exceeds the % of All Public Schools Making AYP	19 (of 35)
% Charter Students Proficient or Advanced on 2005 NAEP	4R – 28% (30% in Non-Charters) 4M – 29% (35% in Non-Charters) 8R – 24% (29% in Non-Charters) 8M – 21% (29% in Non-Charters)
% Charter Students Making More Than a Year of Learning Gains	Unknown
Charter High School Graduation Rate	Unknown
Policy Environment
Number of States with Charter Laws	40 plus D.C.
# of States with State-Imposed Caps on Charters	25 plus D.C.
Average Per-Pupil Charter Funding as % of Average District School Funding	78% (Statewide) 76% (Urban Districts)
# of Non-Local School District Charter School Authorizers	127 (2004-05)
% of Authorizers That Are Non-Local School Districts	16%
Public Opinion
% of Registered Voters Who Accurately Describe Charters as Public Schools	41% (34% in 2006)
% of Registered Voters Who Initially Favor Charters, Oppose Them, Are Unsure About Them	38% - Favor (35% in 2006) 13% - Oppose (16% in 2006) 49% - Unsure (49% in 2006)