In seven short years, the U.S. charter-school movement has
produced about 800 schools in 29 states and the District of
Columbia, enrolling over 100,000 students. Charter schools
reflect their founders' varied philosophies, programs, and
organizational structures, serve diverse student populations,
and are committed to improving public education. Charter schools
are freed of many restrictive rules and regulations. In return,
these schools are expected to achieve educational outcomes
within a certain period (usually three to five years) or have
their charters revoked by sponsors (a local school board, state
education agency, or university). What Explains Charter Schools'
Growing Popularity?Some members of the public are dissatisfied
with educational quality and school district bureaucracies
(Jenkins and Dow 1996). Today's charter-school initiatives are
rooted in the educational reforms of the 1980s and 1990s, from
state mandates to improve instruction, to school-based
management, school restructuring, and priva