Researching 21st Century Education Policy Through Social Network Analysis - Vol 28 - Issue 121

Oct 15, 2026

This qualitative study investigates how three progressive charter schools in New York City mobilized financial support in a philanthropic network context where most resources flow to market-oriented charters. It examines how supporters functioned within networks and how schools’ resource mobilization reflected their founding progressive tenets. Findings show that the focal charters incorporated market logic to cultivate funding networks, aiming to secure resource advantages while unintentionally reinforcing resource inequities. This undermined equity and community responsibility dimensions of their progressive missions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages30

Reading Time1 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Keywords

Study Focus

Financial Support Mobilization in Progressive Charters

Networked Philanthropic Context

Alignment With Progressive Founding Tenets

Findings and Implications

SPECIAL ISSUE Researching 21st Century Education Policy Through Social Network Analysis education policy analysis archives A peer-reviewed, independent, open access, multilingual journal Arizona State University Volume 28 Number 121 August 17 , 2020 ISSN 1068-2341 “Doing What it Takes to Keep the School Open”: The Philanthropic Networks of Progressive Charter Schools Elise Castillo Trinity College United States Citation: Castillo, E. (2020) .“Doing what it takes to keep the school open”: The philanthropic networks of progressive charter schools. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 28(121) . [https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.28.4452](https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.28.4452 This)[ This](https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.28.4452 This) article is part of the special issue, Researching 21st Century Education Policy Through Social Network Analysis, guested edited by Emily Hodge, Joshua Childs, and Wayne Au. Abstract: Researchers have demonstrated how venture philanthropic networks advance the growth of charter schools underpinned by market tenets. However, little remains known about how progressive charter schools mobilize financial support when most funding from philanthropic networks flows to market-oriented charters. This qualitative study examines how three progressive charter schools in New York City mobilized financial support, the extent to which charters’ financial supporters operated in a networked context, and the extent to which charters’ resource mobilization activities reflected their founding progressive tenets. Findings reveal that the focal charters incorporated market logic when cultivating financial support networks. In doing so, schools endeavored to secure their own resource advantages while reinforcing resource inequities across New York City’s unequal educational landscape, hence undermining the equity and community responsibility dimensions of their progressive missions. Keywords: charter schools; philanthropy; social network analysis “Hacer lo que sea necesario para mantener la escuela abierta”: Las redesfilantrópicas de las escuelas autónomas progresistas Resumen: Los investigadores han demostrado cómo las redes filantrópicas de riesgo promueven el crecimiento de las escuelas autónomas respaldadas por los principios del mercado. Sin embargo, se sabe poco sobre cómo las escuelas autónomas progresistas movilizan el apoyo financiero cuando la mayor parte de los fondos de las redesfilantrópicas se destina a las escuelas autónomas orientadas a los mercados. Este estudio cualitativo examina cómo tres escuelas autónomas progresivas en la ciudad de Nueva York movilizaron apoyo financiero, hasta qué punto los patrocinadores financieros de las escuelas autónomas operaron en un contexto en red y hasta qué punto las actividades demovilización de recursos de las escuelas autónomas reflejaron sus principios progresistas fundacionales. Los resultados revelan que las cartas focales incorporaron la ló gica del mercado al cultivar redes de apoyo financiero. Al hacerlo, las escuelas se esforzaron porasegurar sus propias ventajas de recursos al tiempo que reforzaban las desigualdades de recursos en el desigual panorama educativo de la ciudad de Nueva York , lo que socavaba las dimensiones de equidad y responsabilidad comunitaria de sus misiones progresistas. Palabras-clave: escuelas charter; filantropía; análisis de redes sociales “Fazendo o que é necessário para manter a escola aberta”: As redes filantrópicas deescolas charter progressivas Resumo: Pesquisadores demonstraram como as redes filantrópicas de risco promovem ocrescimento das escolas charter sustentadas por princípios de mercado. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre como as escolas charter progressistas mobilizam apoio financeiro quando a maior parte do financiamento de redes filantrópicas vai para charters orientadas para osmercados. Este estudo qualitativo examina como três escolas charter progressivas na cidade de Nova York mobilizaram apoio fina

FAQs

What does the study analyze about progressive charter schools and philanthropy?

It examines how three progressive charter schools mobilized financial support and how their supporters operated within a networked context of philanthropy.

Why is the philanthropic network context important in the research question?

The study highlights that most philanthropic funding flows to market-oriented charters, leaving uncertainty about how progressive schools still secure support.

What do the findings suggest about the schools’ approach and its consequences?

The charters incorporated market logic to build funding networks, securing advantages while reinforcing resource inequities across New York City’s unequal educational landscape.

Oct 15, 2026

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