In his new report, “Robbers or Victims? Charter Schools and District Finances,” Rutgers University professor Mark Weber finds that the presence of charter schools does not drain resources from their host districts. Instead, district resources tend to increase significantly. Weber concluded:
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In most states, an increase in the percentage of students attending independent charter schools was associated with a significant increase in host districts’ total revenue and spending per pupil.
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In most states, an increase in the percentage of students attending independent charter schools was associated with an increase in host districts’ local revenue per pupil, and in some states, it was also associated with an increase in state and/or federal revenue per pupil.
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In most states, an increase in the percentage of students attending independent charter schools was associated with an increase in host districts’ per-pupil spending on support services, and in some states, it was also associated with an increase in instructional spending per pupil.
The figures below confirm a significant association between charter schools and school district resources in North Carolina, except for host districts’ local revenue per pupil.
