Charter school type matters when examining funding and facilities: Evidence from California.

Abstract

Currently, charter schools represent one of the fastest growing movements of educational reform. The first charter school opened in 1992 and there are now over 3,400 charter schools nationwide. Despite this growth, we are only beginning to learn about the performance and operation of these schools. This article adds to our knowledge of charter schools both by examining the finances of charter schools in California, which has more charter students than any other state, and by highlighting their fiscal challenges. Using survey data of California charter and conventional public schools, the results suggest that the degree charter schools are struggling with resources and facilities depends upon charter school type.

Books or Guards? Charter School Security Costs

“…Indeed, several efforts demonstrate that venture philanthropy enables some charters to secure more revenues per pupil than their counterparts (Scott, 2009). Here scholars provide examples of charters who derive revenues from foundation grants, capital campaigns, and partnerships with for-profit and nonprofit educational management organizations (EMO) (Huerta & d'Entremont, 2010;Krop & Zimmer, 2005;Miron, Nelson, & Risley, 2002;Scott & DiMartino, 2010).…”

“…Others argue that charter spending decisions follow in large part from state funding policies, such as those that prohibit charters' use of public funds to construct, lease, or renovate school facilities (Ascher, 2004;Kamai, 2005;Krop & Zimmer, 2005;Smith, 2005), or require that they comply with district collective bargaining agreements (Belfield, 2008). Still others note how charters' need to incur start-up costs obscures spending comparisons (e.g., developing curriculum, hiring staff, and procuring facilities).…”

“…Still others note how charters' need to incur start-up costs obscures spending comparisons (e.g., developing curriculum, hiring staff, and procuring facilities). Start-up costs are thought to be less for conversion charters than nonconversion charters (Huerta & d'Entremont, 2010;Krop & Zimmer, 2005).…”

Financial Management of New York's Charter Schools: A Normative, Descriptive, and Prescriptive Analysis

“…Belfield (2008) examined whether state law required charters to comply with district collective bargaining agreements, and the effects of those and other mandated personnel policies on charter schools (e.g., provision for pensions). Other scholars, including Krop (2003) and Ascher (2004), have considered the effect of policies that restrict charter schools' ability to use public dollars to lease, construct, or renovate facilities (see also Belfield, 2008;Hassell, 2005;Kamai, 2005;Krop & Zimmer, 2005).…”

“…The first examines charter school funding mechanisms at the state and local levels (e.g., Odden & Kotowski, 1992;Sugarman, 2002). The second reports on charter school expenditure and revenue patterns independently or in comparison to other public schools (e.g., Krop & Zimmer, 2005;Miron & Nelson, 2002;Speakman & Hassel, 2005). It is our view that although these efforts offer policymakers useful insights into macrolevel charter finance phenomena, they fail to reveal the financial management practices that enable charter schools to meet their objectives.…”