Charter Schools and Urban Revitalization: What’s the Connection?
Check out GSU Sociology Professors Tomeka Davis and Deirdre Oakley‘s recently-published research:
Davis, T., & Oakley, D. (2013). Linking charter school emergence to urban revitalization and gentrification: A socio-spacial analysis of three cities. Journal Of Urban Affairs, 35(1), 81-102.
“The link between neighborhood quality and school quality is long-standing and well
established. Over the last two decades there have been several federally sponsored initiatives aimed at revitalizing the urban core; initiatives that emerged around the same time as charter schools. Despite the changing urban context that has occurred alongside charter school emergence, little research has addressed the link between urban revitalization efforts and charter school emergence. Using three cities that have experienced massive urban core revitalization and metropolitan growth since the early 1990s (Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia), we examine whether demographic changes resulting from urban revitalization and gentrification are associated with the opening of a charter school. Our findings illustrate a somewhat mixed account. We find some evidence to support this link in Chicago and Philadelphia, whereas we find little support for it in Atlanta.” [article abstract]