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Twice considered: Charter schools and student achievement in Utah

Author

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  • Ni, Yongmei
  • Rorrer, Andrea K.

Abstract

A relatively small state, Utah presents an interesting case to study charter schools given its friendly policy environment and its significant growth in charter school enrollment. Based on longitudinal student-level data from 2004 to 2009, this paper utilizes two approaches to evaluate the Utah charter school effectiveness: (a) hierarchical linear growth models with matched sample, and (b) general methods of moments with student-fixed effects regressions. Both methods yield consistent results that charter schools on average perform slightly worse as compared to traditional public schools, a result that is primarily affected by the low effectiveness and high student mobility of newly opened charter schools. Interestingly, when charter schools gain more experience they become as effective as traditional public schools, and in some cases more effective than traditional public schools. This research has implications for local and state charter school policies, particularly policies that avoid “start-up” costs associated with new charter schools.

Suggested Citation

  • Ni, Yongmei & Rorrer, Andrea K., 2012. "Twice considered: Charter schools and student achievement in Utah," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 835-849.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:31:y:2012:i:5:p:835-849
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2012.06.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Figlio, D. & Karbownik, K. & Salvanes, K.G., 2016. "Education Research and Administrative Data," Handbook of the Economics of Education,, Elsevier.
    2. Matthew Johnson & Alicia Demers, "undated". "Ewing Marion Kauffman School Year 7 Impacts," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 580a57f948a241ceaf4131942, Mathematica Policy Research.
    3. Michael S. Kofoed & Christopher Fawson, 2021. "A neighborly welcome? Charter school entrance and public school competition on the capital margin," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 188(1), pages 75-94, July.
    4. Matthew Johnson & Alicia Demers, "undated". "Ewing Marion Kauffman School Year 6 Impacts," Mathematica Policy Research Reports bd1f54f237124b218114062d5, Mathematica Policy Research.
    5. Matthew Johnson & Daniel Thal, "undated". "Ewing Marion Kauffman School Year 8 Impacts," Mathematica Policy Research Reports f0c4d4cd361948fba1c86f9e2, Mathematica Policy Research.
    6. Dennis Epple & Richard Romano & Ron Zimmer, 2015. "Charter Schools: A Survey of Research on Their Characteristics and Effectiveness," NBER Working Papers 21256, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Charter school effectiveness;

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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