The impacts of charter schools on students in grades K-12

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is kicking off a new topic area today (January 23, 2018) that will explore the impacts of charter schools on students in grades K-12. The new Charter School topic area launches with the release of three intervention reports, the WWC’s reviews of available research on an intervention or program to determine if there is strong evidence that it has a positive impact on student outcomes. The three intervention reports released today focus on Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), Green Dot Public Schools, and Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) Promise Academy Charter Schools. • KIPP is a nonprofit network of more than 200 K-12 public charter schools with high behavioral and disciplinary expectations as well as an extended school day and school year compared with traditional public schools. Based on the research, the WWC found KIPP to have positive effects on mathematics and English language arts achievement and potentially positive effects on science and social studies achievement for middle and high school students. KIPP shows no discernible effects on student progression for high school students. • Green Dot Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates more than 20 public charter middle and high schools in California, Tennessee, and Washington, emphasizing high quality teaching, strong school leadership, a curriculum that prepares students for college, and partnerships with the community. Based on the research, Green Dot Public Schools had potentially positive effects on mathematics achievement, English language arts achievement, student progression, and school attendance for high school students. • HCZ Promise Academy Charter Schools is a non-profit organization designed to serve low-income children and families living in Harlem in New York City. The HCZ Promise Academy Charter Schools have a longer school day and year than traditional public schools, monitor student progress, provide differentiated instruction, and educate students and families on character development, healthy lifestyles, and leadership skills. After reviewing the current research, the WWC found that no eligible studies meet WWC design standards. Therefore, more research is needed to determine the program’s effectiveness.