More Evidence in PA for Scrapping Charter Schools

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (my bolds):

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Sunday, July 11, 2010 

The latest Pennsylvania assessment test scores show that more charter school students are underperforming than students at traditional public schools.

Among charter school students, about 20 percent didn't meet basic academic standards in reading and math, compared with about 12 percent of district students, according to 2009 Pennsylvania System of Student Assessment test results.

"I get very upset when a report comes out and then people think that charter schools are no good," said Richard Wertheimer, founder, CEO and principal of City Charter High School, Downtown, which was given a warning last year because not enough black students met state math standards.

Whether a school meets federally-mandated student achievement goals is based on the number of students who score as advanced or proficient, meaning they showed a solid understanding of the material. About 75 percent of Pennsylvania public school students scored advanced or proficient in reading and math, compared with about 59 percent of charter school students. . . .