MichiganRadio

Study: Charter schools performing better than neighboring traditional public schools ANN ARBOR, MI (Associated Press) -

A new study finds charter schools in Michigan are doing a better job than previously thought.

Past surveys have found that charter school students scored lower on standardized tests than the average student in Michigan. But Bettie Buss with the Citizens Research Council of Michigan says that's a bit misleading. She says charter schools tend to score better than traditional public schools in the same community.

Buss says there are several reasons why, but she believes charter school families are more motivated to achieve academically.

"My belief is the most important thing is the support that that child gets from his family or her family," says Buss.

Buss says state policies are trending in the right direction to improve education for all of Michigan's children, whether they are in traditional, charter or private schools. But she says more research is needed.


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Citizens Research Council of Michigan http://www.crcmich.org/ © Copyright 2012, Associated Press