Charter Schools Make Gains On Tests
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Students in the District's charter schools have opened a solid academic lead over those in its traditional public schools, adding momentum to a movement that is recasting public education in the city. District children in both systems still fall short of national averages on standardized tests. But students in charter schools have been more successful at closing the gap. According to a Washington Post analysis of recent national test results for economically disadvantaged students, D.C. middle-school charters scored 19 points higher than the regular public schools in reading and 20 points higher in math. On the city's standardized tests, the passing rate for charter middle schools was 13 percent higher on average. District school records show that charters also have better attendance and graduation rates than the regular public schools and that their teachers are more likely to fit the city's definition of "highly qualified," meaning that they have expertise in what they are teaching. Charter schools were envisioned as a way to prompt public school reform and give low-income families better educational options. They are publicly funded, and any D.C. student can attend for free. But the schools operate independently of the regular school system under rules set down in their charters and with the oversight of the seven-member Public Charter School Board.

Two quick points:
- It will be interesting when DC charter schools break 50% of enrollments and the self-selection bias falls into the background. That said, quite impressive results if true (subpoint: why is it that I can mock and/or detest the press for the godsawful reporting on things I know well and still expect other stories to be accurate?)
- I'm thinking that calling teachers who have some expertise in what they are teaching "highly qualified" may have something to do with lagging performance. Down with Big Teacher!