VANCOUVER, Wash. — Jason Margolis, assistant professor of education at Washington State University Vancouver, is not surprised by the recent U.S. Department of Education report that fourth grade students attending charter schools are performing about half a year behind students in other public schools in both math and reading.
The report results first appeared in an Aug. 17 New York Times article.
Margolis, who spent a year in intensive research at a charter school, explained that charter schools often attract students who struggle to learn in traditional school settings. Charter schools also often have problems with organizational stability.
In addition, the mission of individual charter schools may not necessarily be geared toward success on the achievement tests, he said.
