Charter School Publications

EdSource offers a wide range of publications that provide policy analysis and data related to charter schools in California. This page lists recent EdSource publications, including EdSource Reports that you can order through our secure e-commerce system, and briefs you can download free.

Note: Downloadable publications are available as PDFs. You will need Acrobat Reader to view and print them.

As a non-profit organization, EdSource depends on the sale of these publications to help support our work. We thank you for your order and for respecting our copyright by not reproducing our publications without permission. Contact the EdSource office about our generous bulk discounts for multiple copies.

California's Charter Schools: 2008 Performance Update (June 2008) EdSource's fourth annual analysis of the state's charter schools, yields findings that are similar to last year’s report. READ MORE     qty: Buy to download now (select Qty. 1), $8.00     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $8.00

2008 Resource Cards on California Schools (April 2008) This convenient spiral-bound volume contains the latest data on school finance as well as information on students, teachers, and California's accountability system. (If you experience problems when ordering online, please contact our office directly at 650/917-9481.) READ MORE     qty: Buy to download now (select Qty. 1), $10.00     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $10.00

California Charter School Policy Update: Legislators focus on facilities, financing, and governance (June 2007) Since the enactment of the California Charter Schools Act of 1992, policymakers have continued to add and fine-tune their policy direction. This update looks at the major current charter policy issues. Free download. READ MORE

Executive Summary: California's Charter Schools: Measuring Their Performance (June 2007) This brief presents the major findings from EdSource’s May 2007 investigation of how California’s charter schools are performing. Free download. READ MORE

California's Charter Schools: Measuring Their Performance (June 2007) This third annual analysis of charter school performance in California compares how well charter schools did versus noncharters on 2006 academic achievement tests. It also looks at how the academic performance of different kinds of charter schools varied. Free download. READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $8.00

Executive Summary: California's Charter Schools: How Are They Performing? (May 2006) This brief presents the major findings from EdSource’s May 2006 investigation of how California’s charter schools are performing. Free download. READ MORE

California's Charter Schools: How Are They Performing? (May 2006) This second annual analysis of charter school performance in California compared how well charter schools did versus noncharters, as measured by the percentage of schools that met their 2005 Academic Performance Index (API) growth targets. Free download. READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $8.00

Summary of findings from 'How are California’s Charter Schools Performing?' (June 2005) This article summarizes the complexities in comparing charter school achievement to that of other public schools and the findings from EdSource’s May 2005 investigation of how California’s charter schools are performing. READ MORE

How are California's Charter Schools Performing? (May 2005) This 24-page report discusses the complexities in comparing charter and noncharter schools. It summarizes the most recent data from California's assessment and accountability systems, while also presenting findings from prominent research studies which detail how charter schools are doing at improving student achievement. Free download. READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $8.00

Q&A: Charter Schools in California (May 2005) This two-page Q&A describes what is involved in starting a charter school, how charter schools are funded and regulated, facility issues, and the pros and cons of charters versus traditional schools. Free download, also available in Spanish. READ MORE

Charter Schools in California: An Experiment Coming of Age (June 2004) This full-length publication provides a status report on California's charter schools including the context in which they operate and information on how they are funded. Free download. READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $8.00

Proposition 39: Relying on a Super-Majority To Approve Local School Bond Measures (September 2000) Proposition 39 reduced from two-thirds to 55% the vote school districts and community colleges need to authorize local general obligation bonds for school construction. This four-page report describes that measure and arguments for and against it. Free download. READ MORE     qty: Buy to receive by mail, $3.00

Charter Schools in California: Public Education by a New Set of Rules (November 1999) This two-page publication provides an explanation of the new laws that govern charter schools. To download free now, READ MORE