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What is a charter school?
A charter school is a nonsectarian public school of choice that operates with
freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools.
The "charter" establishing each such school is a performance contract detailing
the school's mission, program, goals, students served, methods of assessment,
and ways to measure success. The length of time for which charters are granted
varies, but most are granted for 3-5 years. At the end of the term, the entity
granting the charter may renew the school's contract. Charter schools are
accountable to their sponsor-usually a state or local school board-to produce
positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract. The basic concept
of charter schools is that they exercise increased autonomy in return for this
accountability. They are accountable for both academic results and fiscal
practices to several groups: the sponsor that grants them, the parents who
choose them, and the public that funds them.
What's the difference between charter schools and other public schools?
Charter schools are public schools of choice, meaning teachers and students
choose them. They operate with freedom from many regulations that apply to
traditional public schools. They generally offer teachers and students more
authority to make decisions than most traditional public schools. Instead of
being accountable for compliance with rules and regulations, they are
accountable for academic results and for upholding their charter.
When drafting charter school laws, most states explain their intent to: (1) increase opportunities for learning and access to quality education for all students, (2) create choice for parents and students within the public school system, (3) provide a system of accountability for results in public education, (4) encourage innovative teaching practices, (5) create new professional opportunities for teachers, (6) encourage community and parent involvement in public education, and (7) leverage improved public education broadly.
Who authorizes charter schools?
This varies from state to state, depending on the state's charter law. In
California, for example, there are three types of authorizers: the governing
board of the school districts, county boards of education, or the state board.
In Pennsylvania, individuals or groups seeking to establish a charter public
school must apply to the local school board of the district in which the school
will be located. Generally there are four types of entities allowed to authorize
charter schools: the local school board, state universities, community colleges,
and the state board of education.
Who can start a charter school?
Parents, community leaders, businesses, teachers, school districts, and
municipalities can submit a charter school proposal to their state's charter
authorizing entity.
Who attends charter schools? Whom do they serve?
Nationwide, students in charter schools have similar demographic characteristics
to students in all public schools. In some states charter schools serve
significantly higher percentages of minority or economically disadvantaged
students than the traditional public schools.
How are they funded?
As public schools, charters are not allowed to charge tuition, and they are
funded according to enrollment. In some states, such as Alaska, Colorado,
Minnesota, and New Jersey, they receive less than 100% of the funds allocated to
their traditional counterparts for the operation of public schools. In other
states, like California, additional funds or loans are made available to them.
In most states, charters do not receive capital funds for facilities. They are
entitled to federal categorical funding for which their students are eligible,
such as Title I and Special Education monies. Federal legislation provides
grants to help charters with start-up costs.
How many are there?
Since the first charter school opened in Minnesota in 1992, the charter school
movement has grown to an estimated 2,695 schools operating nationwide in 2002-2003,
serving almost 685,000 students.
Which states have charter schools?
As of 2003, 41 states, including the District of Columbia, have passed charter
school laws. The states are: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado,
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,
New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Of these forty-one, 37 states currently have charter schools. There are no charter schools open yet in Iowa, New Hampshire, Tennessee, or Maryland.
Do charter schools have admissions policies?
By law, charter schools must have a fair and open admissions process, conducting
outreach and recruitment to all segments of the community they serve. When more
students apply than can be accommodated, many charters use a lottery to randomly
determine which students are accepted. Many charter schools also have waiting
lists.
What kind of federal support is there for charter schools?
Through the Public Charter Schools Program, the U.S. Department of Education
offers grants to states, which then award subgrants to individual schools to
assist them in planning, design, and initial implementation of new charter
schools. Dissemination grants are also available to successful charter schools,
with three or more years of experience, to support activities through which they
help other groups open new or improve existing public schools. Charter schools
are also eligible for funding under other federal programs.
How are charter schools doing?
This is the area in which current research is centered and where more data are
needed. Some schools have already been successful enough to have their charters
renewed, which means their sponsors were satisfied that they met the original
goals of their charter. A few charters have been revoked due to lack of proper
financial management or lack of achievement. Charter schools have shown
improvement in both parent and student satisfaction and in innovation in
technology, curriculum, assessment, and governance.
What do we know about how charter schools operate?