Exploring the Supply Side: Charter School Openings and Parent Satisfaction in New York City

• In Event: Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Impacts of School Choice

Abstract

School choice policies have led to a proliferation of new schools opening. While economic theory suggests that new charters would open in high demand locations (e.g where parents express dissatisfaction with current educational options), limited work examines whether this is, indeed, occurring. Framing our study in geography, we explore both space factors (parent satisfaction) and place factors (census block SES) as contrasting explanations for where new charters may open. By using GIS mapping, we explore where new charters open in New York City using data from NYC public schools and the Census. Preliminary results suggest that place factors may be more important that space factors in explaining where charters open.

Authors

• Andrew Saultz, Miami University - Oxford

• Daniel Thomas Fitzpatrick, Excellent Schools Detroit

• Rebecca Jane Jacobsen, Michigan State University