In at least 20 states, charter schools have existed for five years or less. That can be seen in the conflicting perceptions that local and state officials have about what is expected from charter schools, Anderson says. Yet, only 14 percent of state officials agree. The study also found that local school boards that authorize charter schools were less likely to have well-developed accountability policies and procedures in place. For now, it's difficult to quantify the extent to which charter schools are being held accountable, Anderson says.
More research is needed.
The research also suggests accountability is improving as charter school authorizing bodies gain more experience. More policies and procedures are in place in states where charters have existed for several years. Having observed charter schools fail because of poor preparation and planning, experience also has taught charter authorizers to look at the issue of accountability before a charter school is authorized, Anderson says. Today, many authorizing bodies demand that strong financial plans, a detailed curriculum, and measurable academic goals be included in charter applications. One accountability issue that has received little attention involves the various constituencies that put pressure on a charter school.