Charter schools : why states and communities select them, and their effect on educational outcomes

This dissertation investigates the issue of school choice in education, and its effectiveness in improving student outcomes. Specifically, this dissertation studies charter schools, and analyzes the charter school concept in three ways. First, the state choice to pass charter legislation is analyzed. Second, the regional choice to enact a charter school is studied. Third, the effect of charter schools on educational outcomes is analyzed.A theoretical model is developed which determines the factors that affect the charter school choice at the state and regional level. An educational production function is used to model the effect of a charter school on educational outcomes.Data are gathered from national and state educational agencies. Binary choice models are utilized for analyzing the state and regional choice. Self-selection is tested for in the outcome model to see if communities have self-selected charter schools.Both the state and regional choice models show that there are statistically significant factors which influence the charter school choice. However, when tested for self-selection is not statistically significant. Charter schools are found to have a positive relationship with the district high school dropout rate in the full sample, and a negative relationship with test scores in two states. These results apply only to charter highschools and represent the initial period of the charter movement only. These results caution policymakers in the use of charter schools to improve educational outcomes.