Research & Resources for Public Charters
At the heart of our mission is the desire to provide a quality education to each student in Arizona, no matter where they attend school. The Association’s research team supports this goal by publishing analyses of Arizona school quality, providing tools for researchers, and promoting research-based advocacy that improves student outcomes. Our expertise has been employed for a number of non-partisan, external reviews and evaluations of Arizona’s key education policies.
The Arizona Charter Schools Association has released the NEW Education Evaluator, an easy to use interactive public school map that provides an easy, transparent way for parents and community members to research and compare schools across Arizona.
Users can view school enrollment information, student achievement data and school specific information for all of Arizona’s district and public charter schools
Data Tools
Annually, public school students in most grade levels take various state-required achievement tests. These tests give parents and educators a rare opportunity to compare student achievement over the educational landscape and over time. This data dashboard allows users to track performance of charters and districts, student subgroups, and grade levels over time. Missing information indicates a low number or no students in a category.
On October 1 each year, all public school systems across the country do a “head count” of enrolled students. These data help educators track enrollment trends by student group and within programs. Student counts are available for more than a decade on this data dashboard. Missing information indicates a low number or no students in a category.
Additional Useful Data Tools for Public Charter Schools
For more online tools, visit the sites linked below:
- Arizona Department of Education School Report Cards
- Arizona Department of Education annually publish public data files – click here
- Arizona State Board for Charter Schools online data system
- National Center for Education Statistics Elementary and Secondary Data Warehouse
Education Blog and Publications
The Origin of Arizona’s K-12 Funding Gaps
A Study by Dr. Matthew Ladner, Arizona Charter Schools Association Arizona’s Funding Gap: A Statewide Problem with a Local Origin The Arizona legislature last revised K-12 public school funding in 1980, successfully equalizing
When it comes to school regulation, less is more . . .
By Dr. Matthew Ladner, Director of the Arizona Center for Student Opportunity. A version of this article was published in the Arizona Capitol Times February 7, 2023 Arizona lawmakers have created a vibrant
Arizona’s K-12 Funding Inequality: A Statewide Failure with a Local Origin
by Dr. Matthew Ladner Some Arizona school districts spend approximately five times as much per pupil the lowest funded Arizona school district. Arizona also schools within the same district spending five times as
Charters at the Capitol 2023
We’re excited to welcome you back to the Arizona State Capitol for our annual Advocacy Day on Monday, March 27! Charters at the Capitol is an important day on our advocacy calendar, when
Tricks & Treats for Arizona . . .
Tricks & Treats for Arizona – Courtesy of 2022 NAEP The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is administered to a random sample of students nationally and by state. Similar to an opinion
Masada Charter School Earns Prestigious Honor for a Second Time
The Arizona Charter Schools Association applauds Masada Charter School, of Centennial Park in Mohave County, for being named a National Blue Ribbon School. It is the second time Masada has earned the coveted
Back to School – and Arizona’s Ready!
As Arizona students head back to school, they face the enormous challenge of overcoming learning loss from the COVID-19 pandemic period. Arizonans, however, have reasons to feel optimistic. The state’s dynamic school system
Students in Rural Arizona Reap the Benefits of Public Charter Schools
According to the 2020 United States Census, of its total population of over seven million, approximately 340,000 Arizonans are living in rural communities served by 64 public charter schools – outnumbering the total
