An analysis of charter school enrollments in New Castle County and potential implications for racial imbalance

Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
As charter schools have grown in numbers across the state, most predominantly in New Castle County, as well as across the country, there has been rising concern over whether charters contribute to increasing racial imbalance among schools. My EPP reviews literature and gathers publicly available data to trace the rise of charters and school choice policy nationally and in Delaware. I examine charter school enrollment and admissions policies and enrollment trends in New Castle County schools since charters’ inception. Enrollment data show schools have become more racially segregated and that charter schools tend to be racially imbalanced, either predominantly African American or predominantly white. However, more of the regular schools are also more racially imbalanced now than they were ten or twenty years ago. ☐ A review of the utility of publicly available census and geographic mapping tools show promise in helping charter school leaders, Delaware policymakers, and others with an interest in charter school locations and enrollment patterns by student subgroups make decisions regarding the growth of additional charter schools in New Castle County. These tools also add value when reviewing whether enrollment trends in existing charter schools have changed over time to benefit one race/ethnic category of students over another. ☐ As a result of this study, this EPP includes recommendations for policy changes such as strengthening oversight of charter school admissions processes by reevaluating existing admissions preferences, monitoring enrollment trends among the charter sector as well as between charter schools and regular public school to ensure diversity, and holding charter schools accountable for academic outcomes to uphold the original intent of Delaware’s charter school law—the promise of increased educational opportunities for all students in Delaware.
Description
Keywords
Education, Delaware
Citation