Charter schools possess no magic formula: Opposing view
More money gives KIPP schools an edge.
Studies of charter schools have usually shown they provide no benefits. But studies of schools run by KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) have shown strong performance. A new study suggests that KIPP middle schools may boost test-score growth by as much as eight months to eleven months over three years.
What sets KIPP apart from other middle schools? The core of the formula is clear: Students learn when they have opportunities to learn. So we would expect to see that the opportunities to learn are different at KIPP.
OUR VIEW: Charter school experiment a success
They are. But I doubt it's because of teaching methods or some magic charter formula. The true secret is more money, something public schools are starving to get. In 11 districts in the 2007 school year, KIPP received, on average, as much as$5,760 more per pupil than local school districts, according to a recent study. KIPP leverages this generous supplemental private funding in a straightforward way: giving students more time in schools while placing a reasonable
