Investigating the financial and socio-economic determinants of student learning at US charter and public schools: The Texas experience

Abstract

This paper investigates whether financial and socio-economic factors affect student performance of charter vs. public schools. Based on data from Texas, this research employs a multiple regression model to find whether charter school students outperform public school students. The policy implications of the results are relevant to legislative initiatives. The paper recommends to charter school advocates and state and federal regulators that there is probably a need to design and implement an experience-certification-adjusted pay scale for teachers so charter schools would attract competent teachers who would help students improve their learning skills and knowledge.