Assessing the Impact of Charters on Public School Segregation

• In Event: AERA Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual Poster Session: Division L - Educational Policies and Politics Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

We use a range of statistical techniques to compare the race, ethnicity, disability classification and English learner status of New Jersey students attending a traditional district school with students who reside in that district and attend a charter. We find that charters have a significant segregating effect on enrollment for each of those subgroups. We further find that the contours of charter segregation are highly localized, taking different forms and largely depending on local demographics. However, the populations of students from any given district who tend to perform best on standardized measures of academic achievement are often concentrated in charter schools, while students who require more intensive resources to serve equitably end up concentrated in the matched charter-feeder district schools.

Authors

• Ryan Coughlan, Baruch College - CUNY
  Presenting Author

• Julia Sass Rubin, Rutgers University
  Presenting Author