Exploring the Perspectives of Middle-class African American Parents Who Are Charter School Skeptics

Abstract

The expansion of charter schools continues to be one of the most hotly debated topics in American K–12 education. Through the use of in-depth interviews, this article explores the perceptions of charter schools among middle-class African American parents in Albany, NY, who have largely chosen traditional, city public schools over city charter schools. Findings reveal that the majority of parents disliked charter schools in that they connected them with the corporate/business model of education visible in the trend toward neoliberalism. Their critiques centered on three broad categories: skepticism of their academic quality, political or philosophical objections to charter schools, and a dislike of charter schools’ policies. This article concludes with limitations of the data and suggestions for future research.