SCHOOLS

Operating Schools

19

Total Enrollment

8,990

Resource

The National Charter School Directory offers complete listings, including school address, program description, and website.

LAW

Grade

B

Rank

13th out of 40 laws

Resource

CER's 2010 point-by-point profile of Delaware's charter law looks at approval process, operations, funding, and teacher and student provisions.

EQUITY

Funding

Delaware's charter schools receive, on average, $8,530 per pupil, compared to the $13,590 that conventional district public schools receive.

Resource

More information on equity issues at Charter School Funding: Following the Money.

ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Test Scores

Only a few comparisons of charter to conventional public school students make objective data about student achievement scarce. In a sample of 500 students in various grades, charter school students in grades six through eight scored as well as their peers in conventional public schools in reading, and beat the state average by five points in grade seven.

Closures

While a total of 34 schools have been approved to date, less than 60% of those are now in operation. The reasons why vary, but research indicates many struggled with obtaining facilities and points to holes in the processes in place to assist schools in becoming operational.

Resource

Accountability Report 2009: Charter Schools: In-depth information about charter achievement and accountability, including state-by-state analyses and closure listings.