Support for charter schools has fallen slightly since 1998, according to a report released Wednesday by MSU researchers.

The report, based on a 965-person survey conducted by the MSU Education Policy Center, showed support has declined 8 percent in the last five years, from 63 percent in 1998 to 55 percent this year.

In 1998, 23 percent opposed them, whereas this year the number increased to 27 percent.

Respondents were asked if they supported or opposed charter schools, which are tuition-free public schools that receive state funding and offer an alternative to traditional public schools. A Michigan law passed in 1994 authorized their establishment.

Although the survey suggests support for charter schools is down, some experts questioned the way the questions were phrased.

Dan Quisenberry, president of the Lansing-based Michigan Association of Public School Academies, said he wondered why a similar survey that the center conducted in 2001 wasn't included in the findings.

The Michigan Association of Public School Academies works as a resource for Michigan's 202 charter schools.

In 2001, about 970 respondents were asked the same question by the policy center; 72 percent supported charter schools and 28 percent opposed them.

But researchers at the policy center said 2001 survey data couldn't be compared to the 1998 or 2003 data.

"That (survey) showed higher support and higher opposition, because respondents were allowed to say they had no opinion about charter schools," said David Plank, co-director of the MSU Education Policy Center.

He said in 1998 and 2003, respondents only could say whether they did or didn't support charter schools.

And although the survey suggests the majority of Michigan residents still support charter schools, Plank said those who oppose them do so for two main reasons.

"Some have argued it undermines traditional public schools by costing the state money that would normally go to traditional public schools," Plank said.

"And after 10 years, we've learned that charter schools do no better than traditional public schools."

But some experts argue charter schools offer an essential alternative to traditional public schools.

"They allow you to have access to a quality school if the local one isn't up to par," Quisenberry said.

Charter schools must be authorized to operate by a university, school district, or community college. In 1999, lawmakers capped the number of charter schools at 150.

MSU doesn't license charter schools.

Quisenberry said the decrease in support is a minor decline and said parents still want to keep their options open when it comes to their children's education.

"If you're talking to a parent who has kids, they're going to like the idea of a charter school," he said.

"The support is still there."