Balancing the Competing Institutional Logic in Charter School Board Composition and Performance Outcomes

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 11:40 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Navigating Institutional Logics and Autonomy in Charter Schools: Governance, Policy, and Outcomes (Table 5)

Abstract

In our research, we explore the influence of the composition of charter school boards on academic and financial outcomes. We examined data from 89 Massachusetts charter schools operating between 2001 and 2020. Our primary data source was the annual reports, which included information on achievement, financials, and governance, submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Education. Our findings indicate that the presence or absence of certain board members can significantly impact performance outcomes. Our preliminary results highlight the domination of charter school governing boards by a narrow group of individuals from specific industries in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, suggesting the existence of competing institutional logic.

Authors

• Charisse A. Gulosino, University of Memphis

• Elif Sisli Ciamarra, Stonehill College