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| Harlem Success Academy |
Not a Tool for Desegregation
Charter schools don't seem to have any major effects on desegregating schools. In fact, some charter schools help reinforce segregation whether intentionally or not. Students with similar racial and economic backgrounds usually gather together in particular charter schools. This seems to reflect the geographic reality of many of these charter schools who mainly reside in urban areas with a large concentration of minorities. Urban charter schools enroll more minority children while suburban charter schools enroll more white children. Some charters may focus on intentionally serving minority students as a way of helping the community. This only exacerbates the issue of segregation.
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| Image from Chalkbeat |
Mixed Effect on Racial Achievement Gap
Minnesota was one of the first states to use charter schools. Despite using charter schools since the '90s, its effect on the achievement gap seems absent. Minnesota still has the worst achievement gap in the country. This may seem greatly damning to the use of charter schools but other states have experienced different results. In complete contrast, New York charter schools have greatly relieved minority communities in desperate need of better schools.
Academically, minority children tend to still perform worse than white children even in the same school. For example, Hispanics still perform worse in English topics. This reflects the inequalities already seen in public schools.
A fascinating article to Chalkbeat and the racial segregation in schools in Newark and the current Ed. Law Center case about Charter schools role in segregation in schools in Newark public schools.
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