Annual Report on Connecticut’s Charter Schools

The State Department of Education recently issued its annual report on Connecticut’s charter schools. Among its facts and conclusions:

o Although the state’s 18 charters schools are located in only 10 school districts, nearly half (85) of Connecticut’s school districts had at least one resident among the 5,170 students who attended those schools in 2009-10.

o State funding for charter schools increased by more than 340% between FY 01 and FY 10, from $14 million to over $48 million.

o 68.3% and 67.6% of charter school students performed at or above the state goal in math and reading, respectively, on the Connecticut Mastery Tests in 2010, an increase of roughly two percentage points over 2009 in each category.

o Although these percentages lag behind statewide averages for all other public schools, Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport students who attend charter schools located in those cities outperform students in city public schools.

o The demand for charter schools is high, with long waiting lists. Charter school enrollment would double if the schools had enough space and state funding to accommodate all who are interested.

o Limited financial resources is the main obstacle to maintaining and extending charter schools in Connecticut.