charters: empirical work, narrative, and the politics of anecdote

A good article in New York (magazine) on charter schools...

Intuitively, one would expect modest results-- and larger impacts on the inner-city where the monopoly power is (far) greater. (And of course, this doesn't get into the lower cost for taxpayers, more choice for students/parents and teachers, and more flexibility for the delivery of education services.)

I think the political analysis is correct too. For better and mostly for worse, the "debate" comes down to competing anecdotes/stories. Fortunately for charter proponents, it will be relatively easy to come up with compelling stories for their side. In most battles against interest groups, the subtle/concentrated calculus does not play nearly as well.

h/t: Chris Lang