Last week, the New York City media and the Department of Education exulted in a new CREDO study showing that charter schools outperform public schools in New York City.

But, as usual, no one bothered to look behind the curtain.

Bruce Baker shows in this post that NYC charter schools enroll significantly fewer students who are English language learners and others who might pull down their scores. This creates “peer effects” that benefit those who are admitted, while overloading the public schools with the neediest students.

But charter schools are different from public schools in other significant ways, and Baker has the data:

Charter schools have smaller classes.
Charter teachers are paid more.
Charters have longer school days.
Charters spend more than public schools.
Charters limit the poorest and most disabled students.
Which of these lessons should public schools learn and apply?

Please, someone, tell that to the New York Times, the New York Daily News, and the New York Post, as well as the TV stations.