Where Charter School Policy Fails: The Problems of Accountability and Equity (Sociology of Education, 12)

In this provocative volume, Amy Stuart Wells and her co-authors provide evidence that the laissez-faire policies of charter school reform often exacerbate existing inequalities in our schools.Providing the most comprehensive, critical review of charter schools to date, this timely volume is based on the authors’ in-depth study of 10 urban, suburban, and rural school districts and 17 diverse charter schools in California, plus their analysis of other charter school studies from around the country. Focusing on two central issues—accountability and equity—they explore how charter school policies affect the lives of children, educators, and parents in diverse social, economic, and political contexts. The authors conclude that although the quality and experiences of charter schools is highly varied across different contexts, the laws that allow these schools to exist fail to assure meaningful accountability. Meanwhile, these policies increase inequality and stratification by pushing the educational system toward privatization in terms of finance and admissions while failing to target much-needed resources toward low-income communities. This dynamic book will help educators and policymakers develop a future policy agenda for charter school reform that will be more responsive to the needs of all children. In this provocative volume, Amy Stuart Wells and her co-authors provide evidence that the laissez-faire policies of charter school reform often exacerbate existing inequalities in our schools.Providing the most comprehensive, critical review of charter schools to date, this timely volume is based on the authors'in-depth study of 10 urban, suburban, and rural school districts and 17 diverse charter schools in California, plus their analysis of other charter school studies from around the country. Focusing on two central issues—accountability and equity—they explore how charter school policies affect the lives of children, educators, and parents in diverse social, economic, and political contexts. The authors conclude that although the quality and experiences of charter schools is highly varied across different contexts, the laws that allow these schools to exist fail to assure meaningful accountability. Meanwhile, these policies increase inequality and stratification by pushing the educational system toward privatization in terms of finance and admissions while failing to target much-needed resources toward low-income communities.This dynamic book will help educators and policymakers develop a future policy agenda for charter school reform that will be more responsive to the needs of all children.“The authors, for the first time, make sense of the diverse and diffuse charter school ‘movement.'They argue that the lack of support, the absence of equity provisions in state laws, and the burnout of many charter school personnel have led to the beginning of the end of this—yet another—school reform. This book provides important lessons for all who care about public education.”—Jean Anyon, Graduate Center, City University of New York_x000B_ This collection of papers suggests that the laissez-faire policies of charter school reform often exacerbate existing inequalities in U.S. schools. It is based on a study of 10 urban, suburban, and rural school districts and 17 diverse charter schools in California, focusing on accountability and equity to explore how charter school policies affect the lives of children, educators, and parents in diverse social, economic, and political contexts. Seven papers discuss: (1) "Why Public Policy Fails to Live Up to the Potential of Charter School Reform: An Introduction" (Amy Stuart Wells); (2) "The Politics of Accountability: California School Districts and Charter School Reform" (Amy Stuart Wells, Ash Vasudeva, Jennifer Jellison Holme, and Camille Wilson Cooper); (3) "Reinventing Government: What Urban School Districts Can Learn from Charter Schools" (Sibyll Carnochan); (4) "Public Funds for California Charter Schools: Where Local Context and Savvy Meet Formula" (Julie Slayton); (5) "Public Schools, Private Resources: The Role of Social Networks in California Charter School Reform" (Janelle Scott and Jennifer Jellison Holme); (6) "Creating Charter School Communities: Identity Building, Diversity, and Selectivity" (Alejandra Lopez, Amy Stuart Wells, and Jennifer Jellison Holme); and (7) "California's Charter School Teachers: The Embedded Context of Professionalism" (Ash Vasudeva and Cynthia Grutzik). The book ends with "Conclusion: Envisioning a More Progressive Agenda" (Amy Stuart Wells). (Papers contain references; book contains an index.) (SM) Based On Their Own In-depth Study Of 17 Diverse Charter Schools In California And Other Recent Studies From Around The Country, The Authors Explore How The Laissez-faire Policy Of Charter Schools Interacts With The Lives Of Children, Educators, And Parents In Diverse Social, Economic, And Political Contexts. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Why Public Policy Fails To Live Up To The Potential 1 Of Charter School Reform: An Introduction Amy Stuart Wells 2. The Politics Of Accountability: 29 California School Districts And Charter School Reform Amy Stuart Wells, Ash Vasudeva, Jenniferjellison Holme, And Camille Wilson Cooper 3. Reinventing Government: What Urban School Districts 54 Can Learn From Charter School Sibyll Carnochan 4. Public Funds For California Charter Schools: 77 Where Local Context And Savvy Meet Formula Julie Slayton 5. Public Schools, Private Resources: The Role Of Social 102 Networks In California Charter School Reform Janelle Scott And Jenniferjellison Holme 6. Creating Charter School Communities: 129 Identity Building, Diversity, And Selectivity Alejandra Lopez, Amy Stuart Wells, And Jenniferjellison Holme 7. California's Charter School Teachers: 159 The Embedded Context Of Professionalism Ash Vasudeva And Cynthia Grutzik Conclusion: Envisioning A More Progressive Agenda 178 Amy Stuart Wells. Edited By Amy Stuart Wells. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In this provocative volume, Amy Stuart Wells and her co-authors provide evidence that the laissez-faire policies of charter school reform often exacerbate existing inequalities in our schools. Providing the most comprehensive, critical review of charter schools to date, this timely volume is based on the authors in-depth study of 10 urban, suburban, and rural school districts and 17 diverse charter schools in California, plus their analysis of other charter school studies from around the country. Focusing on two central issuesaccountability and equitythey explore how charter school policies affect the lives of children, educators, and parents in diverse social, economic, and political contexts. The authors conclude that although the quality and experiences of charter schools is highly varied across different contexts, the laws that allow these schools to exist fail to assure meaningful accountability. Meanwhile, these policies increase inequality and stratification by pushing the educational system toward privatization in terms of finance and admissions while failing to target much-needed resources toward low-income communities. This dynamic book will help educators and policymakers develop a future policy agenda for charter school reform that will be more responsive to the needs of all children.