Charter schools - getting the facts

It appeared to me at after reading the three articles that we have only scratched the surface in even answering any of these questions on the effectiveness of charter schools. Since there was debate as to whether the results are both fair and actually reflective of the performance of the school. It appears that we would need to analyze the figures with specific benchmarks/measures already determined.

I do not believe there is any way to say accurately that one schools is "lagging behind" so generally, until you have assessed all the many variables affecting the school, and affecting the markers we are using to assess them. I find it difficult to even consider data that is so highly contested accross different parties. I keep asking who is the authority, and why are we reading this if they do not agree on the more subjective interpretations of the data. Should we not be looking at the data for ourselves and trying to determine for oursleves how well these programs have done, in each case and what it was they were set up to achieve.

I believe that a closer look at the actual survey results may lead each of us to our own conclusions based on what we consider progress, and maybe looking at the different reasons why some charter schools have been highly successful in achieving their goals and others have been less successful. Perhaps looking at the variables affecting the different schools and taking them all into consideration, we will find ourselves agreeing with one or the other side in different categories.