EVOLVING DEFINITIONS OF EXCELLENCE
A common incorrect criticism of charter schools is the lack of accountability. However, authorizing is designed to ensure charter schools have high standards of accountability. And authorizers are going above and beyond to hold schools accountable for reading/math results and so much more.
“A school’s mission is a promise to families. It’s an authorizers job to make sure the school upholds that promise.”
–Erin Anderson, Dir. Of Charter School Authorizing, Osprey Wilds
Data included in this section are indicators of school quality authorizers are using for formal accountability (e.g., as part of their performance framework or contract with the school). They do not reflect other informal ways authorizers or schools may use this data.
FIGURE 01
MEASURES OF SCHOOL QUALITY AUTHORIZERS ARE USING
FIGURE 02
PERCENT OF AUTHORIZERS USING MEASURES OF SCHOOL QUALITY
Authorizers are using a wide range of of information to assess school quality.
There is room for improvement for authorizers using Multiple Measures – both long-used and normed indicators, AND new indicators like mission-specific goals and student and family wellness and engagement.
FIGURE 03
AUTHORIZER ACCESS TO COLLEGE & CAREER READINESS DATA*
Many authorizers don’t have access to the data necessary to assess student readiness for opportunities beyond K-12.
*These percentages are self-reported by authorizers.
Using multiple measures of school performance is not easy work and we have a long way to go to make sure we do it right.