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A new study shows that while charter schools are making significant gains in their performance, they are not exceeding public schools in most areas of the country. In addition, the study found vast variations in the quality of public school throughout the nation, with charters in some states outperforming traditional schools and charters in other states falling sadly behind. As interest in charter schools continues to grow, many are looking at studies like this with interest to determine whether these non-traditional schools can pull their weight in the public school system.

Taking a Closer Look at Charter Schools

The reports that the latest study was conducted by researchers at Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO). Researchers analyzed test data for schools in 26 states and the District of Columbia to compare the performance of charter schools to that of traditional public schools. To obtain the most accurate comparisons, charter school students were compared directly to a “virtual twin” - a composite of seven students from a nearby school with similar demographics to the charter school student.

This video looks at the question of whether charter schools are better than public schools.

Like traditional public schools, public charter schools are funded with tax dollars. However, unlike traditional schools, charters do not have to follow the guidelines and curriculum standards required by the local school system. Most charters

Families often choose the location of their next home based on where their children will go to school. As the focus on school performance has become more astute, thanks to a rising emphasis on test scores and completion rates, home shoppers have become more cautious in their selections as well. Do schools directly affect home values in a neighborhood? The answer may depend on where you are shopping for your next home.

Home Values and School Spending

According to the , there is a definite correlation between school expenditures and home values in any given neighborhood. A report titled “Using Market Valuation to Assess Public School Spending” found that for every dollar spent on public schools in a community, home values increased by $20. These findings indicate that additional school expenditures may benefit everyone in the community, whether or not those residents have children in the local public school system.

This video outlines the correlation between good schools and home prices.

While the findings of this national study are compelling, they do not paint a complete picture of the link between school spending and home values. According to the website, some school districts may operate more efficiently, so while expenditures are lower, the quality of education is still high. In addition, the district's size or proximity of schools from neighboring districts could impact the perception of a specific school’s

The idea of community schooling is not new, but it has presented significant challenges to Philadelphia Public Schools. Community schools have cropped up in various locations around the country and have proved their worth to students and the surrounding neighborhoods. As Philadelphia takes yet another look at the feasibility of community schools in this large district, it is an opportune time to examine the many potential benefits this school model provides.

This video reports on community schools in Philadelphia.

What is a Community School?

According to the Coalition for Community Schools website, this school model features a partnership between the school and other community resources. The model recognizes that the learning process does not occur in a vacuum and that students bring other factors to the table when they come to class every day. The community school strives to address as many of those factors as possible, to ensure students of all backgrounds and income levels have the best possible shot at academic success.

A true community school goes well beyond the academic realm, however. These full-service institutions offer health care, social services, and support systems in addition to a wide range of academic options. Community schools also extend their hours and access to ensure all members of the community that require these services may find what they need right at the school.

In addition to offering a wide range of services, a

At a time when many schools are pushing churches out in the interest of separation of church and state, one large Florida school district is actually welcoming churches in. Duval County, as well as other Florida school districts, appears to be learning the delicate dance between accepting help from community churches without bringing religion into the school setting. As the two coordinate efforts, it seems the biggest winners in this new partnership are the students the schools – and churches – aim to serve.

An Unlikely Partnership

The reports that First Coast churches are coming to the aid of many schools in the area, with surprisingly positive results. The first step toward this unlikely partnership was the school system, which approached a Christian non-profit, Campus Crusade for Christ, five years ago. One of the employees of the organization, Ken Vensel, was surprised when school officials asked the organization for help with a faith-based initiative for the schools. However, Vensel took the request to heart and organized a group of faith leaders in the area to come together in providing the services schools were looking for.

The result has been a number of partnerships between schools and faith leaders throughout the state, including Duval County where the needs are often great. In one Duval elementary school, Windy Hill, nearly 70 percent of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches. Churches can help these schools in a variety of ways, offering