Indiana has the strongest charter school law in the country and ranks second among the 18 states with the healthiest charter school growth, according to a report released Monday by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the “health” of charter schools in each state.
The schools were evaluated by three criteria: the school must serve at least two percent of the public school population as of the 2013-14 school year, it must have participated in a national charter schools study by CREDO and it must be in a state that had the same accountability system for all public schools in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years.
Only 18 met that specified criteria.
According to the Indiana Charter School Board, a charter school is a public school that operates under a contract between the school and a sponsor.
Washington, D.C., ranked first with 106 points out of 132. Oregon ranked last with 45 points. Indiana had 88 points.
The 180-page report said Indiana’s charter school laws have a fair amount of autonomy and accountability and don’t cap charter school growth. It said charter schools are still inadequately funded, but the state is making strides toward better funding.
Last year Indiana charter public schools served more free and reduced lunches for students than traditional public schools and served 32 percent more ethnic and racial minorities than traditional public schools.
“Charters are serving those students who most need a better public school option,” the report said.“Indiana also has a relatively high percentage of special-focus schools, showing that charters are providing a diverse array of options for students and educators."
Indiana has 88 public charter schools, accounting for about 4 percent of the public schools in the state. The majority of those schools are in suburban cities, thereby reaching a more diverse population. Most charter schools are near Indianapolis or in the Chicago area.
Bloomington will have two charter schools: the Project School, a free and nonprofit school founded by educators, and Seven Oaks Classical School, which will open this coming fall.
Hannah Fleace
