National Charter School Research Project

The National Charter School Research Project (NCSRP) aims to bring rigor, evidence, and balance to the national charter school debate. Our research ranges from the school level to charter management organizations (CMOs) to school districts and authorizers. We provide ongoing charter research and information on: accountability and oversight, CMOs, state landscape, and teachers and leaders. To date, we have published over 80 reports and provided over 50 presentations on our work.

We review recent reports on charter schools and provide analysis on student achievement studies based on well defined standards.

Hopes, Fears, & Reality is our annual report that examines the current issues and controversies across these areas.

Our newest report (released June 28) presents interim findings from the National Study of Charter Management Organizations. Co-authors Robin Lake and Brianna Dusseault discuss the findings at the National Charter Schools Conference in Chicago on June 29. Their panel is "Interim Findings from a National Study of Charter Management Organizations (CMOs) Effectiveness," Tuesday June 29, 1:45-3:00 pm, E451a, Lakeside Convention Center.

More about the project

Publications

The National Study of Charter Management Organization (CMO) Effectiveness: Report on Interim Findings
Robin Lake, Brianna Dusseault, Melissa Bowen, Allison Demeritt, Paul Hill

Charter Management Organizations: Innovations, Opportunities, and Challenges - BRIEF
Robin Lake, Brianna Dusseault, Melissa Bowen, Allison Demeritt, Paul Hill

Unique Schools Serving Unique Students: Charter Schools and Children with Special Needs
Robin Lake

Unique Schools Serving Unique Students: Charter Schools and Children with Special Needs - BRIEF
Robin Lake

Taking Measure of Charter Schools: Better Assessments, Better Policymaking, Better Schools
Julian Betts, Paul Hill

How Do Charter Schools Compete for Teachers? A Local Perspective
Betheny Gross, Michael DeArmond

Hopes, Fears, & Reality: A Balanced Look at American Charter Schools in 2009
Robin Lake

Charter High Schools: Alternative Paths to Graduation
Sarah Yatsko, Betheny Gross, Jon Christensen

Performance Management in Portfolio School Districts
Robin Lake, Paul Hill

Custom Tailored: Trends in Charter School Educational Programs
Jon Christensen, Lydia Rainey

Hopes, Fears, & Reality: A Balanced Look at American Charter Schools in 2008
Robin Lake

Value-Added and Experimental Studies of the Effect of Charter Schools on Student Achievement: A Literature Review
Julian Betts, Y. Emily Tang

Working Without a Safety Net: How Charter School Leaders Can Best Survive on the High Wire
Christine Campbell, Betheny Gross

Closing the Skill Gap: New Options for Charter School Leadership Development
Christine Campbell, Brock J. Grubb

Hopes, Fears, & Reality: A Balanced Look at American Charter Schools in 2007
Robin Lake

Quantity Counts: The Growth of Charter School Management Organizations

Beyond the Battle Lines: Lessons From New York’s Charter Caps Fight
Lisa M. Stulberg

Leadership to Date, Leadership Tomorrow: A Review of Data on Charter School Directors
Betheny Gross, Kirsten Martens Pochop

Identifying and Replicating the "DNA" of Successful Charter Schools: Lessons from the Private Sector
Robin Lake

Making Sense of Charter School Studies: A Reporter's Guide
Lydia Rainey

School Safety in Urban Charter and Traditional Public Schools
Jon Christensen

Inside Charter Schools: A Systematic Look at Our Nation's Charter Schools

Hopes, Fears, & Reality: A Balanced Look at American Charter Schools in 2006
Robin Lake, Paul Hill

Key Issues in Studying Charter Schools and Achievement: A Review and Suggestions for National Guidelines
Charter School Achievement Consensus Panel

Holding Charter Authorizers Accountable: Why It Is Important and How It Might Be Done
Robin Lake