The charter school movement is a lightning rod of controversy for many in the education community. The debate over these schools often appears to be driven by theory and ideology, with little information on how the reform itself is affecting students. Claims and counterclaims often leave parents, educators, and policymakers confused. This occasional paper adds clarity to the debate by consolidating the results from the RAND Corporation's comprehensive assessment of charter schools. The remainder of this occasional paper is divided into four sections. Section one describes what charter schools are and how they operate. Section two explains the debate over charter schools among educators and policymakers. Section three addresses the answers to five fundamental questions about the effects of charter schools. The final section summarizes the results and offers conclusions. (Contains 4 footnotes.) [Research included in this paper was also sponsored by the California Legislative Analyst's Office.]