This publication provides an overview of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s investments in chartering along
with selected results and lessons learned. It also presents stories about two successful charter
efforts and Annie E. Casey Foundation's contribution to them.

The General Accountability Offices says more data is needed at the
charter-school level to enhance federal monitoring and research on the
effectiveness of charter schools.

Since 1991, charter schools have been springing up around the country under a multitude of different state laws. These new schools are independent of central school district oversight. So, who’s making sure new charters get off to a good start and fulfill their promise to educate children? Rob Capriccioso reports.

Charter schools in four of the ten states analyzed in Brookings 2002 Education report scored significantly below similar local public schools on achievement tests. The researchers note, however, that the analysis cannot determine whether these results reflect poor performance on the part of the charter schools or a pre-selection of low-performing students whose parents choose to send them to charter schools. Across all schools, 17-year-olds' arithmetic scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress tests have fallen precipitously since 1990-largely attributable to poor performance on problems involving fractions.

The popular Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook with step-by-step guidelines for using evaluation to improve youth programs is now online (but be patient because it takes time to download).

The U.S. Department of Education offers a clearinghouse of information on public charter schools, publicly-funded schools that experiment with new education techniques and increase the public school options available to students and parents.