Do charter schools have required performance or achievement standards?
Yes. Charter schools must demonstrate that their educational programs meet or exceed the student performance standards adopted by the state for other public schools. They must also, as part of their application, describe the student achievement goals for the schools educational program and indicate the chosen methods by which they will determine whether students have attained the skills and knowledge specified for those goals. As part of their assessment program, charter school students are required to take existing state exams required of students in other public schools, including GEPA exams. Charter school operators are otherwise free to design, staff, and operate their schools whichever way is best suited to educating students and meeting the schools contractual obligations to the chartering entity.
