SCHOOLS

Operating Schools

144

Total Enrollment

61,823

Resource

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

LAW

Grade

B

Rank

11th out of 40 laws

Resource

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

EQUITY

Funding

Charters suffer from inequitable funding, and impact aid requirement provides disincentives to districts to approve charters. Pennsylvania's charter schools receive, on average, $8,663 per pupil, compared to $12,219 for conventional public schools.

Resource

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

ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Test Scores

While students in charter schools are making progress across the state, the most remarkable results are found among those students whose school systems typically claim are hardest to educate - minority and at-risk children.

By eleventh grade, 7.2 percent more African American charter school students were at or above reading proficiency than their peers attending conventional schools, indicating that charter school students make substantial gains the longer they stay in charter schools.

Closures

State leaders have not been hesitant to shut down schools that are failing to measure up. As of February 2009, twelve Pennsylvania charters have been closed, and seven never opened.

Resource

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