Charter Expansion and the Public Good: A Longitudinal Enrollment and Fiscal Analysis in Texas

• In Event: Money Matters: Finance, Markets, and Equity in School Choice Systems

Abstract

This study examines the 25-year expansion of charter schools in Texas, focusing on enrollment trends, demographic shifts, and fiscal impacts on traditional public school districts. Drawing on longitudinal administrative data and public records requests, we analyze the growth of charter management organizations and their geographic distribution across the state. Grounded in public goods theory, we explore how charter expansion introduces market dynamics that challenge the equitable provision of public education, particularly through exclusionary practices and fiscal externalities. Preliminary findings reveal significant charter growth and increasing fiscal strain on districts with high charter penetration. This research contributes to debates on school choice by highlighting how charter expansion may fragment educational access and undermine the public good.

Authors

• David E. DeMatthews, University of Texas at Austin

• Jinseok Shin, University of Texas at Austin

• Pedro Reyes, University of Texas at Austin

• Torri Danny Hart, University of Texas at Austin

• Laura Torres, The University of Texas at Austin