Douglas Harris

School closure and takeover is one of the least popular approaches to school improvement. However, a growing body of research suggests that it may be one of the most effective strategies available. It is also a strategy that is increasingly intertwined with the charter school and school choice movements. In this presentation, Harris will summarize research, including our extensive agenda in New Orleans, describe how this led us to a national research agenda, and summarize early results from that national work. One key theme is that charter and private school closure is more performance-driven than in traditional public schools. Also, one of the key mechanisms through which charter schools improve education is by increasing the probability that low-performing schools, of all types, close or get taken over.