It is difficult to make a clear impact statement about charter schools. Much of the available research is equivocal, and many important questions related to the impact of charter schools remain unanswered. Researchers have primarily examined four general topics with respect to the impact of charter schools; (1) Do charter schools raise student achievement?; (2) Do charter schools provide competition that result in improved traditional public schools?; and (3) Do charter schools results in less racial and ethnic integration and/or result in a lower-achieving student body in local public schools by skimming white and better-achieving students from traditional public schools? This report offers current thinking on these topics. This report is a response to the following questions: What is the Regional Educational Laboratory's (REL's) position on school choice for private or charter schools? Is there research or evidence that shows that schools who compete for students serve their customers better? A bibliography is included.