For Immediate Release Monday, December 17, 2001

Edison Schools Perform Poorly Nationwide

My office has reviewed the major findings of the Edison critique of the School District of Philadelphia public schools. We decided to review these data and then subject every school managed by Edison for which data is available to the same method of review. The overwhelming majority of Edison schools perform poorly, and in many cases are fairing worse than some Philadelphia schools. In sum, the methods Edison uses to show the failure of Philadelphia schools, interestingly, reveals that Edison schools are also failing.

If the governor insists that Edison should be involved in educating the children of Philadelphia, then the governor has a responsibility to these children to make public information, proving that Edison is, in fact, capable of improving the educational performance of their students.

My office compiled student performance results on state assessment tests from 20 states and the District of Columbia in which Edison has a presence (data was not available for any of the Edison schools in Nevada or Wisconsin). We compared the percent of students in the state achieving below a certain level to the percent of Edison students in that state achieving below a certain level. The data reveals that in nearly 90 percent of Edison schools -- 61 out of 69 schools -- for which results are available, students perform substantially below standard levels set by the state compared to other students in the state. Results were publicly available for 69 schools (Table 1).

The length of time Edison has run schools does not improve the performance of students. It does not seem to matter how long Edison has been managing schools. Students in schools that Edison took over in the mid-90s continue to perform below the state standard on achievement tests. Some of these students in the lower grades have only been subject to an Edison Aeducation@. These students perform no better than other students in the state nor do their achievement levels exceed those of students in schools more recently taken over by Edison.

Edison reports that the Philadelphia School District has had a combined average of more than 50 percent of its students scoring at the below basic level on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment in math and reading. But how do Edison schools compare under a similar measure? We analyzed data from 32 Edison schools in 7 states. We had data reflecting the percent of students performing below the state standard (using the state standard as a proxy for "basic level") for these schools and for the state. We separated these categories to make them more comparable with data in the Edison report.

• In 20 of 32 Edison schools in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan and Texas, more than 50 percent of students failed to meet the relevant state standard in math and reading in at least one grade for which results were reported (Table 2).

• In 25 of 32 Edison schools in Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan and Texas, the percentage of students failing to meet the state standard in either math or reading exceeded 50 percent in at least one grade for which results were reported (Table 2).

• In Delaware and Illinois, more than 60 percent of Edison 3rd graders failed to meet state standards; likewise, in Georgia, more than 60 percent of Edison 4th graders failed to meet state standards.

• More than 80 percent of Edison students in Maryland scored below satisfactory on the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program tests.

These results clearly disprove Edison's claim of re-inventing public education. Using the same study criteria that Edison uses, there is no evidence to support that Edison is capable of managing and improving any school in the Philadelphia School District.

Edison also reports that from 1997 to 1999, 80 percent of the Philadelphia School District=s students scored less than Aproficient@ on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exam. Again, it is useful to examine the record of performance by students in Edison schools. We examined 24 Edison schools in 10 states. For these schools and states, we had data reporting the percent of students performing "below proficiency" on the state assessment exams.

• In 17 of 24 Edison schools in Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, more than 80 percent of students in at least one grade scored less than Aproficient@ in Math or Reading on the relevant state assessment examination (Table 3).

• In 12 of 24 Edison schools in Colorado, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, more than 80 percent of students in at least one grade scored less than Aproficient@ in Math and Reading on the relevant state assessment examination (Table 3).

• In Kansas, where Edison has been managing schools since 1995, more than 80 percent of Edison students in each grade for which results were reported (grades 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11) scored below proficiency on the Kansas State Assessment exam.

• Despite the fact that Edison has also had a presence in Massachusetts since 1995, more than 80 percent of Edison 4th grade students in that state score below proficiency in reading and math and more than 75 percent of Edison 8th grade students score below proficiency in math. Again, these results make clear that Edison cannot provide a world-class education to Philadelphia students.
  

  Table 1: Percent of Edison Students Scoring Below Specified Level on Relevant State Standard

  (BOLD indicates that percent of Edison students scoring below specified level exceeds state average)

  	Grade 3		Grade 4		Grade 5		Grade 6		Grade 7		Grade 8
  	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading
  CALIFORNIA	44	56	49	55	50	56	45	54	52	54
  Feaster – Edison Charter School	77	85	77	74	71	71	82	84
  San Jose – Edison Academy	20	41	51	55	47	52	37	43
  Edison Charter Academy	67	74	68	72	53	66	53
  Edison Brentwood Academy	73	79
  Phillips – Edison Partnership School	67	44	52	49	49	50	34	45
  Edison – Bethune Charter Academy	80	83	83	84	93	95	80	86
  Edison McNair Academy			84	90	76	88	71	86	86	90
  COLORADO	NA	37	NA	44	62	44	NA	45	NA	45	36	44
  Roosevelt – Edison Charter School	NA	51	NA	67	52	35	NA	70	NA
  Wyatt – Edison Charter School	NA	57	NA	56	71	66	NA	78	NA
  Academy – Edison Elementary School	NA	11	NA	21	36	16	NA		NA
  Emerson – Edison Partnership School										61	83	60
  CONNECTICUT			36	44			45	34			41	32
  Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School			45	50			46	30			62	52

  
  

   

  	Grade 3		Grade 4		Grade 5		Grade 6		Grade 7		Grade 8
  	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading
  DELAWARE	33	25			60	31
  Thomas A. Edison Charter School	69	65			69	56
  FLORIDA			18	22
  Henry S. Reeves Elementary School			43	48
  GEORGIA			38	35			34	29
  Riley – Edison			73	64			29	18
  Martin Luther King, Jr. – Edison			84	79			67	54
  Charles R. Drew Charter School			79	69
  ILLINOIS	31	38			43	41					54	28
  Franklin – Edison School	84	77
  Chicago International Charter School – Longwood Campus	43	62			60	56					81	31
  Feitshans – Edison					70	62
  Loucks Edison Junior Academy					66	58					88	59
  Rolling Acres Junior Academy					34	35					54	18

  
  

   

  	Grade 3		Grade 4		Grade 5		Grade 6		Grade 7		Grade 8
  	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading
  IOWA			29	32
  Jefferson – Edison Elementary School			57	61
  KANSAS			62	NA	NA	60			67	NA	NA	62
  Dodge – Edison Elementary School			81	NA	NA	81
  Edison – Ingalls Partnership School			90	NA	NA	91
  Edison – Isley Partnership School			98	NA	NA	86
  Jardine – Edison Junior Academy									83	NA	NA	84
  MARYLAND	40	39			47	45
  Furman Templeton Elementary	100	100			98	98
  Gilmor Elementary	84	86			91	95
  Montebello Elementary	96	90			98	92
  MASSACHUSETTS			60	51							66	38
  Boston Renaissance Charter School			85	97							90	68
  Seven Hills Charter School			82	94							78	46

  
  

   

  	Grade 3		Grade 4		Grade 5		Grade 6		Grade 7		Grade 8
  	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading
  MICHIGAN			28	41					37	47
  Dr. Martin Luther King Academy			47	59
  Garfield – Edison Partnership School			70	79
  Williams – Edison Partnership School			55	71
  Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences			44	58
  Detroit – Edison Public School Academy			51	51
  Washington – Edison Partnership School			63	80
  Wilson – Edison Partnership School			88	88
  Edison – Oakland Public School Academy			38	52
  Southwestern Edison Junior Academy									73	68
  MINNESOTA		49									55	44
  The Edison Project – PPL School		34									22	23

  
  

   

  	Grade 3		Grade 4		Grade 5		Grade 6		Grade 7		Grade 8
  	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading
  MISSOURI	NA	68	62	NA					NA	66	85	NA
  Allen – Edison Village School	NA	80	86	NA					NA	77	93	NA
  Woodland – Edison Classical Academy	NA	98	86	NA
  Westport Edison Middle Academy	NA								NA	89	100	NA
  NEW JERSEY			29	39							33	16
  Granville Charter School			74	89
  Granville Charter Middle School											84	76
  NEW YORK			33	52
  New Covenant Charter School			97	78
  NORTH CAROLINA	26	24	14	26
  Swift Creek – Edison Elementary	55	44	14	51
  OHIO			23	36			26	18
  The Dayton Academy			85	76			82	81
  Dayton View Academy			85	70

  
  

   

  	Grade 3		Grade 4		Grade 5		Grade 6		Grade 7		Grade 8
  	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading
  PENNSYLVANIA					47	44					49	40
  Lincoln – Edison Charter School					91	85
  The Renaissance Academy					65	44					60	65
  TEXAS	18	14	9	10	6	10	15	15	11	11
  Elm Creek Elementary School	24	20	16	14	3	9
  Kriewald Road Elementary School	9	10	0	10	2	8
  Medrano Elementary School	48	43	34	30	28	38
  Hernandez Elementary School	48	34	23	26	14	27
  Maple Lawn Elementary School	46	38	31	34	20	38
  Henderson Elementary School	69	49	43	49	29	33
  Edward Titche Elementary School	69	49	72	56	37	42
  John Y. Runyon Elementary School	45	38	32	40	36	40
  Blair – Edison	56	56	42	33	36	43
  Stewart – Edison Junior Academy							17	17	24	14

  
  

   

  	Percent of Students Scoring Below National Average on SAT 9
  	Math	Reading
  DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA	67	70
  Edison Friendship Public Charter School Chamberlain Campus	55	58
  Edison Friendship Public Charter School Woodridge Campus	56	54
  Edison Friendship Public Charter School Blow Pierce Campus	77	70
  Edison Friendship Senior Academy Carter G. Woodson	66	76
  High School	Math	Reading
  MISSOURI	87 (Grade 10)	22 (Grade 11)
  Westport Edison Senior Academy	100 (Grade 10)	98 (Grade 11)
  NEW JERSEY	12	16
  Granville Charter High School	64	60

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  
  

   

   

  Table 2: Percent of Edison Students Scoring Below Relevant State Standard  (BOLD indicates that percent of Edison students scoring below state standards exceeds 50 percent)

   

  	Grade 3		Grade 4		Grade 5		Grade 6		Grade 7		Grade 8
  	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading
  CONNECTICUT			36	44			45	34			41	32
  Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School			45	50			46	30			62	52
  DELAWARE	33	25			60	31
  Thomas A. Edison Charter School	69	65			69	56
  GEORGIA			38	35			34	29
  Riley – Edison			73	64			29	18
  Martin Luther King, Jr. – Edison			84	79			67	54
  Charles R. Drew Charter School			79	69
  ILLINOIS	31	38			43	41					54	28
  Franklin – Edison School	84	77
  Chicago International Charter School – Longwood Campus	43	62			60	56					81	31
  Feitshans – Edison					70	62
  Loucks Edison Junior Academy					66	58					88	59
  Rolling Acres Junior Academy					34	35					54	18

  
  

   

  	Grade 3		Grade 4		Grade 5		Grade 6		Grade 7		Grade 8
  	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading
  MARYLAND	40	39			47	45
  Furman Templeton Elementary	100	100			98	98
  Gilmor Elementary	84	86			91	95
  Montebello Elementary	96	90			98	92
  MICHIGAN			28	41					37	47
  Dr. Martin Luther King Academy			47	59
  Garfield – Edison Partnership School			70	79
  Williams – Edison Partnership School			55	71
  Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences			44	58
  Detroit – Edison Public School Academy			51	51
  Washington – Edison Partnership School			63	80
  Wilson – Edison Partnership School			88	88
  Edison – Oakland Public School Academy			38	52
  Southwestern Edison Junior Academy									73	68

  
  

   

  	Grade 3		Grade 4		Grade 5		Grade 6		Grade 7		Grade 8
  	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading
  TEXAS	18	14	9	10	6	10	15	15	11	11
  Elm Creek Elementary School	24	20	16	14	3	9
  Kriewald Road Elementary School	9	10	0	10	2	8
  Medrano Elementary School	48	43	34	30	28	38
  Hernandez Elementary School	48	34	23	26	14	27
  Maple Lawn Elementary School	46	38	31	34	20	38
  Henderson Elementary School	69	49	43	49	29	33
  Edward Titche Elementary School	69	49	72	56	37	42
  John Y. Runyon Elementary School	45	38	32	40	36	40
  Blair – Edison	56	56	42	33	36	43
  Stewart – Edison Junior Academy							17	17	24	14

   

   

   

  
  

  Table 3: Percent of Edison Students Scoring Below “Proficiency” on Relevant State Assessment Exams

  (NOTE: BOLD indicates that percent of Edison students scoring below “proficiency” exceeds 80 percent)

  Grade 3

  Grade 4

  Grade 5

  Grade 6

  Grade 7

  Grade 8

  Math

  Reading

  Math

  Reading

  Math

  Reading

  Math

  Reading

  Math

  Reading

  Math

  Reading

  COLORADO

  NA

  37

  NA

  44

  62

  44

  NA

  45

  NA

  45

  36

  44

  Roosevelt – Edison Charter School

  NA

  51

  NA

  67

  52

  35

  NA

  70

  NA

  Wyatt – Edison Charter School

  NA

  57

  NA

  56

  71

  66

  NA

  78

  NA

  Academy – Edison Elementary School

  NA

  11

  NA

  21

  36

  16

  NA

  NA

  Emerson – Edison Partnership School

  61

  83

  60

  KANSAS

  62

  NA

  NA

  60

  67

  NA

  NA

  62

  Dodge – Edison Elementary School

  81

  NA

  NA

  81

  Edison – Ingalls Partnership School

  90

  NA

  NA

  91

  Edison – Isley Partnership School

  98

  NA

  NA

  86

  Jardine – Edison Junior Academy

  83

  NA

  NA

  84

  
  

   

  	Grade 3		Grade 4		Grade 5		Grade 6		Grade 7		Grade 8
  	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading
  MASSACHUSETTS			60	51							66	38
  Boston Renaissance Charter School			85	97							90	68
  Seven Hills Charter School			82	94							78	46
  MINNESOTA		49									55	44
  The Edison Project – PPL School		34									22	23
  MISSOURI	NA	68	62	NA					NA	66	85	NA
  Allen – Edison Village School	NA	80	86	NA					NA	77	93	NA
  Woodland – Edison Classical Academy	NA	98	86	NA
  Westport Edison Middle Academy	NA								NA	89	100	NA
  NEW JERSEY			29	39							33	16
  Granville Charter School			74	89
  Granville Charter Middle School											84	76
  NEW YORK			33	52
  New Covenant Charter School			97	78
  NORTH CAROLINA	26	24	14	26
  Swift Creek – Edison Elementary	55	44	14	51
  	Grade 3		Grade 4		Grade 5		Grade 6		Grade 7		Grade 8
  	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading	Math	Reading
  OHIO			23	36			26	18
  The Dayton Academy			85	76			82	81
  Dayton View Academy			85	70
  PENNSYLVANIA					47	44					49	40
  Lincoln – Edison Charter School					91	85
  The Renaissance Academy					65	44					60	65
  High School	Math						Reading
  MISSOURI	87 (Grade 10)						22 (Grade 11)
  Westport Edison Senior Academy	100 (Grade 10)						98 (Grade 11)
  NEW JERSEY	12						16
  Granville Charter High School	64						60