Bruce Baker just released a fascinating summary of research on NYC charter schools.
The teachers are younger than district teachers, but not right out of college.
They typically have six years of experience, less than district teachers.
Their salaries are comparable to those of public school teachers.
They mostly have smaller classes than those in the district schools.
The students are less likely to include ELLs and special-ed than the district schools.
The charters do not have the same kids as the district schools.
The test scores vary.
Bottom line: These schools do NOT prove that money and poverty don’t matter.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Powerful proponents of charters (those already in position to shape policy) don’t really intend to take on that debate-the “poverty doesn’t matter” debate. Witness the fade-out of the specific comparison to other countries, because if we were allowed to “filter” students toward certain paths or if we had a more equitable socioeconomic climate; THEN you could make those comparisons. The forces driving U.S. policy do not want to go down the path of indictment of themselves and their greed. They KNOW that poverty matters. They KNOW that public schools (like publicly supported news and health organizations) provide the support, information and guidance necessary for future citizens to shape a more fair and equitable society. That means that these public institutions are to them “the enemy”.
Reformers won’t delve into facts, completely. The will buzz around like pesky little mosquitoes in our tent until policy and pressure finally work together to break our institutions.
They have already affected the guidelines and processes, all the while disrespecting the knowledgeable and cooperative professionals willing to serve all students.
They are now pushing to attach their ratings of their version of student success not just to the classroom teachers-but to the institutions educating those teachers.
Their aim is to tell us what we should know, how well we are to know it, and who is appropriate for handing what knowledge over to growing young minds.
What better way to control the citizens rather than take responsibility? What better way to make truth subjective?
No, they don’t really care about poverty, because when the public school is finally broken, they will be waiting with all sorts of choices, available to families depending on status and financial resources.
An education according to Romney: as much as they can afford.