Are Charter School Parents More Satisfied With Schools? Evidence From Washington, DC

Parental satisfaction is critical to the politics of school reform. Many charter school advocates have no qualms in talking about a charter school movement, linking charter schools to a larger political effort to reform the system of education in the United States. If this movement is to have traction, parents who are satisfied with their children's schools represent a potential pool of supporters for further expansion of charter schools and choice in general. In contrast, if charter school parents are not satisfied with their schools, then a foundation for the movement is missing. In this article, using data from a four-wave panel study of parents in Washington, DC, with children in the traditional public schools and in the growing charter school sector, we explore the effect of charter school enrollment on satisfaction.