As it continues to modify strict disciplinary policies in an effort to keep students in the classroom, the Chicago school district last week released data showing privately run charter schools expel students at a vastly higher rate than do schools in the rest of the district.
The data reveal that during the last school year, 307 students were kicked out of charter schools, which have a total enrollment of about 50,000. In district-run schools, 182 students were expelled out of a student body of more than 353,000. So far this year, charter schools already have expelled 151 students, nearly three times the number at district-run schools.