Professor For Hire Admits Hachet Job On Charter Schools- Teachers union paid part of cost of charter school study

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

Here's a P.S. to my item earlier in the week about a report from University of Minnesota researcher Myron Orfield dinging charter schools in Chicago.

The report concluded that, adjusted for parental involvement and other factors, charters aren't much better than regular Chicago public schools and in some ways perform worse. But it's been brought to my attention that Mr. Orfield conceded in a later interview with WTTW that the Chicago Teachers Union, a vehement foe of charters, picked up part of the tab.

"It was funded by the teachers union," Mr. Orfield said. "And the Ford Foundation and Kresge Foundation and others."

"I certainly want to disclose where the money came from, but all studies are funded by someone," he added. "What's important is to look at the data."

In a subsequent phone call, Mr. Orfield said the CTU had paid "about half" of the total bill.

Myron Orfield can be bought.