Charter Schools Lag Behind in Test Scores

Charter schools are increasingly popular efforts to improve education by unconventional means. Parents must choose to send their children to charter schools, and the schools sign agreements promising to get results. Now, the first independent, nationwide study of charter schools shows that their test scores are lower than those at traditional public schools. The study, done by the Brookings Institution, doesn-t show why scores are lower. We hear more of the findings and talk with charter-school supporters and skeptics.

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