Charter school spending: Is there a relationship between spending and student achievement in charter schools

This study is centered on one of the prevalent concerns in urban educational settings today, the possible relationship between school spending and student achievement. Many studies have examined the relationship between these two issues to try and determine best practices when planning academically for children in urban public school settings. However, there are limited studies currently available that examine the relationship between spending and student achievement in public charter schools. The public school district findings range from the conclusion that per pupil spending matters and schools have the most significant effect on student achievement to the conclusion that money does not matter and a child's socioeconomic status is a stronger predictor of achievement than their academic environment.;This study will examine four charter schools of similar demographics through in-depth interviews of the school's leadership. These interviews will focus on spending choices, school budgeting choices, and the leaders' perception of student achievement. I hope to reveal more clearly, how charter schools are spending their money and if there is a relationship between charter school spending and student achievement. These outcomes, perceived or real, will be compared to actual charter school student achievement data and budget analysis. The PSSA will be used for an analysis of the individual schools and a cross analysis among the schools. The school's annual budget as of June 30 will be used for the budget analysis and comparison.