Ch. 2: How Charter Schools Organize for Instruction (HFR '08)

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December 2008
Betheny Gross, Kirsten Martens Pochop

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Charter schools distinguish themselves from traditional public schools in their educational strategies and offerings

In this chapter, Betheny Gross and Kirsten Martens Pochop present national data showing how charter schools approach teaching and learning. From this analysis, the charter sector appears to be using its autonomy to specialize. Charter schools are differentiating themselves compared to traditional public schools. Charter schools are more likely than other public schools to focus their educational designs on specific missions and populations; adapt their school day and year to meet the needs of their students; customize their programs to help struggling students; and bring college-prep courses to inner-city students. Even within the charter sector, there is great diversity in approach and specialization. As with the achievement results described above, charter schools are proving themselves more different than alike.