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Abstract for 2008 Honors Colloquium

Constance Clark

Public Policy

"Race, Wealth, and Charter School Programs in California"

This thesis examines the variation in advertised educational programs and mission statements of charter schools in California. Specifically, I ask whether the programmatic variation of charter schools correlates with the race and wealth of its student body. How do charter school mission statements and programs vary? Do certain types of charter schools cater to an overwhelming majority of a specific racial/socioeconomic group? My findings suggest that there is a definite difference among types of charter schools as well as a clear variation in racial and socioeconomic groups of students who enroll.