The Center of Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) recently released a report titled, "Hopes, Fears & Reality": A Balanced Look at American Charter Schools in 2011." With the issue again front and center in Washington state, the report presents pertinent facts about public charter schools and why they've increased to more than 4,000 and in 42 states.  Below is a short description of the report. To read the full report, click here:

Charter schools are public schools. Historically, however, the relationship between school districts and charters has been nonexistent at best, antagonistic at worst. As the charter sector continues to grow steadily, an analysis of the national landscape explores how that relationship needs to start changing—and where it already has.

This year's 6th annual edition of Hopes, Fears, & Reality provides a clear roadmap for school districts and charter schools interested in working together to improve education options. The report explains the risks and technical challenges behind charter-district collaboration and provides powerful examples of how they can be overcome.