Comparisons of Students’ Mathematics and Reading Achievement in Texas: Public versus Charter Schools

In the past two decades, charter schools have become increasingly prevalent and popular in the U.S. education landscape. The purpose of this study is to examine the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills [TAKS] school level mathematics and reading test scores performances over time by school types...

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Main Authors: Alpaslan Sahin, Victor Willson, Robert M. Capraro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Eastern Mennonite University 2018-01-01
Series:Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.estej.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ID011-Sahin_PUB.pdf
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author Alpaslan Sahin
Victor Willson
Robert M. Capraro
author_facet Alpaslan Sahin
Victor Willson
Robert M. Capraro
author_sort Alpaslan Sahin
collection DOAJ
description In the past two decades, charter schools have become increasingly prevalent and popular in the U.S. education landscape. The purpose of this study is to examine the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills [TAKS] school level mathematics and reading test scores performances over time by school types. The specific research questions are: how does student academic performance differ for students enrolled in charter schools from non-charter public schools? How does minority student academic performance differ by each of the three comparison school types for minority students? The sample consisted of 7,220 Texas schools including charter schools. A hierarchical regression model with propensity scores as covariates and school type as the primary grouping variable formed the basic analysis. Public schools did not significantly differ from charter schools in terms of achievement. Charter and public schools traded performance across grades and subjects. We found that a multi-school charter system, Harmony Public Schools [HPS], consistently produced better achievement at grades 6-11 on mathematics and reading for all students. Findings and implications are discussed in light of developing more systematic studies to examine charter school systems.
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spelling doaj.art-d48078801af54ea8a393cdecf39a55092023-12-03T07:21:23ZengEastern Mennonite UniversityJournal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education2577-67892018-01-011112710.31756/jrsmte.111Comparisons of Students’ Mathematics and Reading Achievement in Texas: Public versus Charter SchoolsAlpaslan SahinVictor Willson0Robert M. Capraro 1Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M UniversityIn the past two decades, charter schools have become increasingly prevalent and popular in the U.S. education landscape. The purpose of this study is to examine the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills [TAKS] school level mathematics and reading test scores performances over time by school types. The specific research questions are: how does student academic performance differ for students enrolled in charter schools from non-charter public schools? How does minority student academic performance differ by each of the three comparison school types for minority students? The sample consisted of 7,220 Texas schools including charter schools. A hierarchical regression model with propensity scores as covariates and school type as the primary grouping variable formed the basic analysis. Public schools did not significantly differ from charter schools in terms of achievement. Charter and public schools traded performance across grades and subjects. We found that a multi-school charter system, Harmony Public Schools [HPS], consistently produced better achievement at grades 6-11 on mathematics and reading for all students. Findings and implications are discussed in light of developing more systematic studies to examine charter school systems.http://www.estej.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ID011-Sahin_PUB.pdfCharter Schools; Harmony Public Schools; MathematicsReadingand Achievement.
spellingShingle Alpaslan Sahin
Victor Willson
Robert M. Capraro
Comparisons of Students’ Mathematics and Reading Achievement in Texas: Public versus Charter Schools
Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
Charter Schools; Harmony Public Schools; Mathematics
Reading
and Achievement.
title Comparisons of Students’ Mathematics and Reading Achievement in Texas: Public versus Charter Schools
title_full Comparisons of Students’ Mathematics and Reading Achievement in Texas: Public versus Charter Schools
title_fullStr Comparisons of Students’ Mathematics and Reading Achievement in Texas: Public versus Charter Schools
title_full_unstemmed Comparisons of Students’ Mathematics and Reading Achievement in Texas: Public versus Charter Schools
title_short Comparisons of Students’ Mathematics and Reading Achievement in Texas: Public versus Charter Schools
title_sort comparisons of students mathematics and reading achievement in texas public versus charter schools
topic Charter Schools; Harmony Public Schools; Mathematics
Reading
and Achievement.
url http://www.estej.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ID011-Sahin_PUB.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT alpaslansahin comparisonsofstudentsmathematicsandreadingachievementintexaspublicversuscharterschools
AT victorwillson comparisonsofstudentsmathematicsandreadingachievementintexaspublicversuscharterschools
AT robertmcapraro comparisonsofstudentsmathematicsandreadingachievementintexaspublicversuscharterschools