Charter schools face high-stakes accountability. When charter schools fail to perform as expected, including as measured on state tests, authorizers are often expected to close them. While the details of charter school oversight are shaped by each state's charter school policy, federal law influences how states test children and evaluate all…

Created in 2016, Alaska's Pre-Elementary Grants (PEGs) allow school districts to design, develop, and expand affordable and accessible preschool in their communities. PEGs aim, in particular, to serve historically disadvantaged students. This study aimed to help Alaska stakeholders better understand how districts implemented the grants and what…

This Study Snapshot highlights key findings from a study looking at implementation of Pre-Elementary Grant (PEG) programs, the characteristics of PEG districts and the students served, and the student outcomes related to participating in state-funded preschool, including participating in a PEG program. Data sources included documents submitted by…

The "State-Funded Preschool in the Last Frontier: Alaska's Pre-Elementary Grant Program" study examined the implementation of Pre-Elementary Grant (PEG) programs in Alaska, the characteristics of PEG districts and the students served, and the student outcomes related to participating in state-funded preschool, including participating in…

This article focuses on the transformative academies policy in England. Based on an analysis of documentary evidence, we argue that the policy has resulted in the fragmentation of the state-funded school system and stark variation between academies, with those within multi-academy trusts (MATs) having no legal identity. We examine the variation…

The transnational trend towards school autonomy has been enacted in England through the academies programme. The programme is poised to enter its third phase of expansion in light of government commitment to the conversion of all state-funded schools to academies. This article considers the moral implications of the expansion of the programme that…

The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) represents a sea change in the way California funds public education. By directing resources to the students in greatest need, freeing districts from the constraints of categorical programs, and inviting stakeholder participation, the new funding system creates the conditions for districts to advance goals…

In 2013, the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) was enacted to replace the previous California school finance system. The purpose was to stream various funding sources (e.g., basic revenues, categorical funds, block grants) such that districts could engage in comprehensive planning to support all students. Additional monies designated for…

While state policymakers are ultimately responsible for public schools statewide, their influence over local school districts has always been incomplete at best. State chiefs, the ostensible leaders of state education agencies, have limited powers and local school boards ultimately control most of the money and staff. As a result, when state…

The Innovation Schools Act of 2008, § 22-32.5-102, C.R.S. et seq., was designed to provide a pathway for schools and districts to develop and implement innovative practices in a wide variety of areas for the purpose of improving student outcomes. The Act provides a formal process that allows schools or groups of schools to petition their local…

The overarching goal of schools is to create a safe, supportive environment where students can thrive and learn. This begins with a dedication to students' social and emotional well-being, and effective policies and programs that create a culture of trust. Such a culture provides an optimal learning environment, and is also a proactive step…

The purpose of this study was to collect and evaluate data from the Porterville Unified School District to determine how the district receives its revenues as a result of the new Local Control Funding Formula and to research the extent to which the district is allocating resources using research-based strategies for district and school improvement…

This paper is part of a series on district-charter cooperation, which has been studied by the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) for more than five years. School choice is growing in cities with the addition of charter schools, and more district leaders are adopting a portfolio approach to schooling: giving district schools autonomy…

California's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) promised to give more resources to the students who need the most: English learners, foster youth, and low-income students. So, how well is California's new education funding system delivering on that promise? The Education Trust-West's report, "The Steep Road to Resource Equity in California…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in teachers' level of self-efficacy based on the state takeover status of a school district. The design of this study was "group comparison research" (Gall, Gall, & Borg, 2015). The dependent variable was teachers' level of self-efficacy and the independent variable was…