RD145 - Annual Report on Public Charter Schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia


Executive Summary:
The external evaluation of the public charter schools of Virginia examines the five public charter schools in operation in the state during the 2004-2005 school year. Research Dimensions, Inc., conducted the evaluation for the Virginia Department of Education. All five schools are designed to provide alternative and experiential learning opportunities for students who are at-risk. However, differences among these schools include: the histories of the schools, characteristics of the communities served, characteristics of the students enrolled, size of the student bodies, grade levels served, resources available, and educational approaches and priorities.

Key Observations and Findings

• Schools: Of the 94,000 public schools nationally, approximately 3,000 were charter schools, and only five of those were in Virginia. The enrollment for the five charter schools was 555 students as of June 2005 which was less than 0.1 percent of the total Virginia public school population. The majority of Virginia's charter school students, over 80 percent, were in grades 9 through 12. No new charter schools were approved or denied during the 2004-2005 school year. Two of the five schools included in this report will cease operating as charter schools for the 2005-2006 school year.

• Staff: The schools reported a total of approximately 86 staff members including principals, teachers, paraprofessionals, and guidance counselors. The average student-to-teacher ratio was 8.4 students per teacher. Slightly less than 90 percent of all teacher positions were filled by licensed and endorsed individuals.

• Progress in Achieving Goals: Progress reported in terms of improved academic achievement, average daily attendance and decreased dropout rates vary from year to year and among the schools. Three schools achieved adequate yearly progress (AYP) goals under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 for 2005 based on data from 2004-2005. Official accreditation SOL test data for 2004-2005 will be available from the Virginia Department of Education after October 1, 2005. Last year, Murray High School and York River Academy were fully accredited. The overall average daily attendance rate in the charter schools has not improved significantly over the last several years, remaining at 86-88 percent. While dropout rates in the public charter schools have historically been much higher than comparable rates for the divisions in which they are chartered, dropout rates over the last several years for these schools have improved. Official dropout rates for 2004-2005 will be available from the Virginia Department of Education after October 1, 2005.

• Comparison of Student Performance: None of the schools report having conducted a comprehensive comparison of the performance of their students and the students in the traditional schools in their division or a longitudinal analysis of year-to-year improvement on a student-by-student basis. Some have self-reported that survey responses by students and parents suggest that the students are generally performing better than if the students had remained in a traditional school.

• Impact on the Community: All of the schools report programs to achieve parental and community involvement. The perceptions of the schools, community awards, other forms of recognition, and parental surveys suggest success in these efforts. Available information suggests that the small size, individualized instruction, and innovative approaches to education found in these schools have had a positive impact on the communities they serve.