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Charter Schools Already Help Students Race to the Top

Innovative schools hit new milestone with more than 5,000 operating in the U.S.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At a time when states are scrambling to compete in President Obama's signature 'Race to the Top' effort, they really only need to look in their own backyards to see one reform that continues to make a difference in the lives of millions of kids. Today, 5,043 charter schools in 39 states and the District of Columbia are providing nearly 2 million families the option to break away from schools that are failing students and into schools that are serving them. Tens of thousands of others are on waiting lists for the same opportunity.

"We've seen parental and community demand for charter schools rise each and every year," said Jeanne Allen, president of The Center for Education Reform. "No other form of school choice has provided such a dramatic impact on the lives of so many students and no other reform has had the teeth to push conventional public schools to be better like charters have."

Since 1992, charter schools have been created to permit educators the autonomy and freedom to innovate without the restraints of traditional public schools in exchange for academic and financial accountability. And nearly 18 years later, what began as an experiment in many eyes has proven time and again to be a catalyst in the educational lives of America's children.

Continuously throughout each year, the Center for Education Reform (CER) tracks the creation of new charter schools and marks the closing of others, working directly with schools, organizations and states to determine accurate numbers not only for schools themselves, but for their student populations as well, providing the public with the most up-to-date information possible.

"Charter schools are living, breathing examples of education reform at work," said Jeanne Allen. "And their continued growth and success over time shows that states can accomplish path breaking, successful reforms, whether or not the federal government helps. The most important next step states can take is not catering to their perception of what Washington, DC wants to hear, but taking what we know works for kids and making certain each charter law in the country provides an environment supportive of charter schools so that entire systems can benefit from the innovation, competition and singular focus on student achievement they provide."

For more information, please visit: http://edreform.com/charter_school_numbers/

The Center for Education Reform drives the creation of better educational opportunities for all children. CER changes laws, minds and cultures to allow good schools to flourish.

SOURCE Center for Education Reform