Fourth-graders in traditional public schools scored better in math and reading (an average of 5.8 points in math and 5.2 points in reading) than same grade students in charter schools. The scores are from the 2003 National Assessment of Educational Progress test.

Charter school critics portrayed the results as evidence that charers schools are a failing experiment that takes necessary resources from traditional schools. Charter school proponents say the report is flawed and outdated and continued to state that charter schools provide competition to traditional schools thus imporiving public education.

What do you think? Mark Schneider, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, which prepared the report for the Department of Education, said, "My advice to parents based on this report is: Shop around carefully."

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive