Book excerpt: The 2003 Brown Center Report on American Education is the fourth edition of the annual publication. It will be released October 22, 2003. The first section uses NAEP test data and test scores from the states to evaluate student achievement. The second section debunks the popular notion that students are being overwhelmed with homework. The third section offers a follow-up of last year's study of charter schools, with special attention given to charter schools that were once regular public schools and charter schools run by educational management organizations (EMOs).