Review of the Article ‘Are High-Quality Schools Enough to Close the Achievement Gap? Evidence from a Social Experiment in Harlem'”

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In the world of education research, approval from the U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is about as good as it gets. The WWC issues “quick reviews” taking a second look at studies that have earned heavy media coverage. So, it is no small feat that this study of charter student achievement earned the WWC’s highest approval rating: “consistent with WWC evidence standards.” The Harvard study centered on Promise Academy Charter Middle School. The school is part of the Harlem Children’s Zone, which combines inventive charter schools with a network of community services and supports. Focusing on 470 students who entered Promise Academy’s random entrance lottery in 2005 and 2006, the study compared the state test scores of students who enrolled at the school with the scores of students who were denied a seat. The study is equivalent to a randomized controlled trial—the “gold standard” in research—because the groups of students contrasted in the study were formed by random lottery. Through this design, the study controls for other factors that might influence achievement, such as parent engagement. The results showed that the Promise Academy students significantly outperformed the lottery losers, particularly in math: by 8th grade, Promise Academy students outpaced their peers on state math tests by the equivalent of a jump from 50th to 71st percentile.

CT Context

When it comes to boosting achievement in at-risk groups, Connecticut’s charter schools are among the most effective in the state. Based on percentages of students performing at goal on state tests, three of the top 10 schools in the state for African-American performance were charters. So it was a key victory for Connecticut’s kids when, on the last day of this spring’s legislative session, the state legislature passed SB 438 that lifted enrollment caps on Connecticut’s high-performing charter schools. But if high-performing charters are to realize this new opportunity to grow, the next Governor will have to tackle the unfinished business from this legislative session including fixing the unsustainable and unequal funding system for our public charter schools.


Source: The Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now (ConnCAN), an advocacy organization building a new movement of concerned Connecticut citizens working to create fundamental change in our education system.

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