Categories of Charter Schools

As part of the think tank's research into school privatization I have started researching the most common organizational forms used by charter schools.  There are large non-profit and for-profit charter school organizations, university-backed charter schools, schools backed by community groups like ACORN, and finally, independent "mom-and-pop" charter schools.  To what extent should we be differentiating among them in our research and advocacy?  With the exception of for-profit school networks which I feel deserve special scrutiny, I don't yet have an answer.

My initial searching failed to uncover any comprehensive listing of different organizational forms running charter schools.  Since New York state law (like law in nearly all other states) grants chartering authority to a variety of state and local institutions, it generally leaves open the question of what type body can receive such a charter.  The chartering authorities examine each application individually, and though some restrict for-profit entities from receiving charters, they don't otherwise limit who can apply.

Working list of charter school models:

• Non-profit organization (ACORN, UFT, etc.)
• Independent university
• Non-profit school network (Harlem Children's Zone, Green Dot, Success Charter Network, etc)
• For-profit Education Management Companies (EMOs) - not allowed in NYC?
• Independent "mom-and-pop"

Resources

• The question of which chartering authorities are most effective is addressed in the report A Sum Greater Than the Parts: What States Can Teach Each Other About Charter Schooling (Mead and Rotherham).
• A list of New York City charter schools, along with their chartering authority, is available on the New York City Department of Education website.