For decades, the Utah Taxpayers Association has conducted an annual study of the state's public schools - believing taxpayers deserve to know how well their dollars are working.

With charter schools sprouting up at an increasingly rapid rate - there are now 38 statewide, up from 29 in school year 2004-05 - the tax watchdog group this year expanded its scope, releasing an analysis Friday that compares district school spending to that of charters.

The results?

Charter schools are educating for less on a per student basis - more than 13 percent less, the study's backers say.

The association compared total per pupil spending between charter schools and district schools, as well as instructional and operational costs, based on data from the Utah State Office of Education. While total spending was less for charter schools, operational costs were higher, mostly because charter schools have to lease or rent their space. Charter schools also spent a larger percentage of their dollars on classroom instruction.

"They're financially a good deal for tax spenders," said Mike Jerman, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association.

Jerman, a longtime advocate of tuition tax credits and the newly named chairman of Parents for Choice in Education, said that when it comes to improving public education, there are only two options: raise taxes or invite competition.

"It's impossible for one provider of service to satisfy everyone," he said. "Consumer choice makes the market more efficient."

Charter schools are publicly funded entities that can be started by anyone willing to enter into a "charter" or operational contract with an authorizing agency, such as the State Charter School Board or a local school board. They must adhere to most of the same financial and educational standards required of district public schools, but often tailor their programs to community needs or specific interests, such as performing arts or science.

Interest in charter schools has surged since the Legislature authorized them in 1998. John Broberg, director of charter schools for the Utah State Office of Education, said student enrollment in charters for school year 2004-05 was about 6,000 and is expected to nearly double this year. He also noted that 75 percent of the schools have huge waiting lists and predicted an additional 15 charters will be approved in time for next school year.

The growing movement was bolstered earlier this week when Utah charter schools won a $4 million federal start-up grant to be stretched over three years.

"It was like Christmastime," Broberg laughed.

Broberg said charter schools spend less thanks to "pragmatic people" who can manage to "watch every penny" in a smaller, less bureaucratic environment. Because the schools are so new and aren't bound by negotiated contracts with teachers that mandate annual salary increases, he said they save by paying lower salaries to teachers who are happy to work where they do.

While some charters get federal start-up grants, the tax association's Jerman said the schools are primarily funded by state dollars, which are doled out using the same per pupil formula used for all public school students. So while districts can issue bonds and tap into local property tax money to cover facility costs, Jerman said charters don't have that authority and must rely on what they get from the state to cover facility costs. Most charters rent or lease buildings, which accounts for their higher operation costs.

But David Armstrong, superintendent of the Carbon School District, said the picture painted by the study is far from complete. Comparing the costs of serving all of the state's approximately 500,000 school students to 6,000 charter students is unfair. A better analysis, he suggested, would be comparing charters to small schools in rural districts, where costs are inherently higher.

Armstrong said those whopping federal grant dollars, reserved only for charter schools, should not be overlooked. Charters also save, he explained, since they don't have transportation costs, administrative costs - "anyone can be the head of a charter school," he noted - or teachers with years of experience and, therefore, higher salaries. Furthermore, he added, charters don't have to comply with safe school and building code requirements.

But such criticism doesn't deter Broberg.

"They can see shadows in sunshine, if they want to," he said.

jravitz@sltrib.com

Expenditures per student

What Utah public schools and charter schools spent per pupil in fiscal year 2004:

* Utah school districts $6,309

* Utah charter schools $5,466

Charter schools splent 13.4 percent less.

Source: Utah Taxpayers Association, based on Utah State Office of Education data

To learn more about the Utah Taxpayers Association analysis, see the current newsletter at http://www.utahtaxpayers. org/

The Salt Lake Tribune