Do the Costs of California Charter Schools Outweigh the Benefits? California Charter Schools: Costs, Benefits, and Impact on School Districts

Much attention has been focused on the costs charter school enrollment imposes on school districts. Getting an honest answer to this question is important for school districts so that they may adjust their expenditures appropriately. However, as Ladd and Singleton, the authors of a North Carolina study attempting to quantify those costs point out, a broader analysis of the societal benefits and costs associated with charter school policy also is needed to help policymakers assess the value of the policy and whether it should be continued or adjusted. This brief offers a discussion of the types of benefit and cost issues that should be considered and points to evidence to inform those considerations. First we consider potential benefits, then costs, and finally how we might compare the two. It is not meant to be a definitive analysis, but rather a way to bring nuanced discussion and debate to politically laden issues. We argue that, on face, the public policy benefits of charter schooling in California are more evident than the costs. However, more data and benefit-cost analysis are needed to make a clear determination. [To view "Charter Schools and District Enrollment Loss," see ED595191 and "Do Charter Schools Cause Fiscal Distress in School Districts?" see ED595169.]