The Department of Education recently approved a $60 million increase for charter schools,
raising their federal support to $500 million for the 2025-2026 school year. Despite cuts in other
areas, the boost reflects a growing national interest in school choice and recognition of charter
schools’ academic success.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon told the Senate Appropriations Committee that charters are
often outperforming traditional public schools in math, reading, and college readiness. Schools
like New York’s Success Academy reported 96% proficiency in math last year, far above city
averages. Indiana’s Signature School achieved an SAT average of 1316, and the BASIS network
reported a 94.5% pass rate in AP exams.
Charter schools generally serve a higher percentage of Black and Hispanic students and operate
with about $3,500 less in per-pupil funding than public schools. Still, research from Stanford’s
Center for Research on Education Outcomes shows they deliver more instructional time and
better academic results, especially for low-income and minority students.
Despite the momentum, charter schools face scrutiny. A 2024 report noted that 36% of charters
closed between 1998 and 2022, mainly due to low enrollment or mismanagement. Critics like the
National Education Association argue for more oversight, while proponents emphasize that
accountability is a key feature of the charter model.
At the federal level, Republican lawmakers have introduced the High-Quality Charter Schools
Act to support nonprofit startups, calling school choice the civil rights issue of our time. States
like Florida, Texas, and Colorado have also passed laws to increase funding and reduce
regulations for charters.
With more than 8,000 charter schools currently serving 3.8 million students, experts project that
by 2030, 1 in 10 U.S. public school students will be enrolled in a charter program.
