Charter schools receive half as much funding compared to public schools, new study finds

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- A new study from ECONorthwest shows funding for charter schools has dropped, compared to public schools in Oregon.

Isabella Warren is speaking Friday with the Bend International School and Parents who say they're frustrated with the lack of funding. Her report tonight on NewsChannel 21 at Five.

Below is a press release from the Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools:

Oregon public charter schools receive less than half the funding per pupil than their district-run public school counterparts, according to a new report today prepared by ECONorthwest for the Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools (ORC3S).

“Even as more students and families are finding that public charter schools best meet their needs, how Oregon funds education is undermining our work,” said Iris Maria Chavez, Director of the ORC3S. “Legislative action is needed to provide equitable funding for the over 25,000 Oregon students served by these schools.” 

Using the most recent data available from the 2022-2023 academic year, the study compares per-student funding for those enrolled at public charter schools with those in district-run public schools. It finds that charter schools receive on average only 48% of the per-student funding compared to non-charter schools in the same district – about $6,000 less for each student. That gap has grown since 2013 when a similar analysis found charter schools received an average of 63% compared to their district-run counterparts.

Under current Oregon law, school districts are only required to remit 80% of funds received from General Purpose Grants from the State School Fund (the primary state funding mechanism) to K-8 charter schools and 95% of funds for charter high schools. The analysis finds that most districts’ allocations do not exceed that statutory minimum. This disparity is further exacerbated as public charter schools cannot access streams of funding such as student transportation grants.

“We care deeply about providing essential, high-quality education options for thousands of Oregon families and the current funding formula makes our job tougher,” said ORC3S Board Chair Brian Sien. “It translates into tough choices for schools, including making it harder to recruit and retain educators. We urge the next legislature to step up for our students and their families.”

The report also looked at teacher compensation in public charter schools compared to their counterparts in district-run schools, finding they earn on average 21% less a year.

“We truly believe in giving every student the training to become respectful, responsible leaders in their community,” said Lisa Arellano, CEO of Willamette Leadership Academy. “Full and fair funding of charter schools like ours is essential to our work and providing that complete student experience that prepares them for the future.

"Oregon's funding disparity limits our ability at Logos Public Charter School to fully support students, despite our shared public mission with district schools,” said Sheryl Zimmerer, Executive Director of Logos Public Charter School. “We urge the legislature to reform the pass-through funding law for fair funding to charter schools, ensuring equitable education for all Oregon students."

“Our commitment is to provide a world-class education for students,” said Melissa Barnes Dholakia, Executive Director of the Bend International School. “When we are given only a fraction of the dollars that other public schools in the community receive, it makes that job much tougher - especially when serving our students with the most needs.”

Public in-person charter schools serve around 25,000 students in Oregon today. 

To view the full report, visit www.orc3s.org/funding-report. 

About Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools 

The Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools is a coalition of community-based, public charter schools representing all corners of our state.  Although each school is unique in pedagogy and practice, they are united in their commitment to educational innovation and to high-quality schools for all students. ORC3S’s mission is to provide a voice and sustainable support and guidance for the members of the coalition.