Competitive Effects of Charter Schools

• In Event: Examining School Choice Using Varied Methods and Theories

Abstract

Using a rich dataset that merges student-level school records with birth records, and leveraging three alternative identification strategies, we explore how increase in access to charter schools in Florida affects students remaining in traditional public schools (TPS). We consistently find that competition stemming from opening of new charter schools improves reading but not math comprehension and it also decreases absenteeism of students who remain in the TPS. We further discover that competitive forces induced by the presence of charter and private schools appear to be complementary at least when it comes to behavioral outcomes.

Authors

• David Figlio, University of Rochester

• Cassandra M.D. Hart, University of California - Davis

• Krzysztof Karbownik, Emory University