Summary: Research on State-Funded Pre-K: Does it work? What does the research really say?

Advocates of government funded Pre-K claim "study after study shows that the sooner a child begins learning, the better he or she does down the road" and that "five decades of rigorous research have shown that high-quality Pre-K has large and lasting effects." (more…)

Let's get a few things straight about charter schools. First of all, there is no such thing as a private charter school. Charter schools are, by definition, public schools. They cannot charge tuition, they administer the same tests and are rated under the same system as regular public schools, and they must accept all students who apply, unless there's not enough room, in which case they draw names, giving all students an equal chance. (more…)

Fact Check: A-F Ratings

CLAIM: The new A-F ratings are tougher than the old system.
FACT: The new A-F system changed nothing except the labels. "Star" became A, "High Performing" became B, "Successful" changed to C, "Academic Watch" changed to D, and "Low (more…)

Mississippi 2012 ACT Scores Remain Flat

The ACT is a curriculum-based measure of college readiness. (more…)

This page previously linked to data provided by the Alliance for Excellent Education (AEE). The Alliance uses what it calls a "Promoting Power" indicator as a means of identifying the "lowest-performing high schools" in each state. These high schools are more popularly known as "dropout factories." According to AEE, a dropout factory is defined as follows: (more…)

Mississippi District and School Ratings Sorted by County - click here. (more…)

Answers to Your Questions About Charter Schools

Q. Why do parents and children in "Successful" districts need public charter schools?

A. For the same reasons parents and children in any district might want a public charter school. Charter schools are not like antibiotics that should be given only to sick children; they are more like a dose of Vitamin C. (more…)

Beyond City Limits: Expanding Public Charter Schools in Rural America, is the latest publication from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Written by David Stuit, PhD, and Sy Doan of Basis Policy Research, this issue brief explores how public charter schools can meet the educational needs of rural communities. (more…)