SCHOOLS

Operating Schools

9

Total Enrollment

1,462

Resource

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

LAW

Grade

F

Rank

40th out of 40 laws

Resource

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

EQUITY

Funding

Funding is ignored in the state's charter law, leaving it up to districts entirely. Figures from 2006 show Iowa charter schools funded at $7,529 per pupil.

Resource

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

ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Test Scores

Not only are most charters in this state mostly extensions of traditional school districts, thus blurring the distinction between they and their host districts, but the data, while promising, is anecdotal at best.

Closures

Given the law's limited scope and the fact that school districts "own and operate" charters as part of their own district, no charter schools have closed.

Resource

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