A relative handful of charter schools have failed. Far from being an indictment of charter schools, however, these closures are evidence of accountability, one of the great strengths of the charter school movement. It is the largest sample to date of activity in and around charter schools nationwide. Responses were received from 305 of the 1,208 charters operating as of June 1999 in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Charter schools serve large percentages of children who are typically underserved in America's schools.
Charters offer more choices.
Charter schools have responded to students' and parents' well-documented demand for higher standards and more specific, comprehensive school curricula. In just eight years, charter schools have had a measurably positive impact on the health of traditional public schools and have often shown enormous achievement among even some of the nation 's poorest children. Click here to view excerpts, including CER's survey of charter schools, online .