About 15 percent of charter schools shut down, group says
Blog by Sean Cavanagh/Education Week
About 15 percent of the nation's charter schools close—and that's not a bad thing, according to a newly released report, which argues that those shutdowns are proof that the system weeds out institutions that can't cut it for one reason or another. Of roughly 6,700 charter schools that have opened in the United States, 1,036 have closed since 1992, says a report unveiled today by the Center for Education Reform, in Washington. In addition, about 500 other charter schools opened, but were consolidated back into their school districts—or received charter status, but were unable to open or decided not to do so, the report estimates. The center, which advocates for charters and school choice, bills its report, "The State of Charter Schools," as the "first-ever national analysis" of the charters that have closed shop over the past two decades. (more...)