How would chartered public schools help rural and small schools?
Public charter schools are independently managed public schools which operate as small non-profit businesses under a contract with a “chartering authority.” In the draft enabling legislation for Maine, local school boards may act as chartering authorities, as may Maine public colleges and universities. Public charter schools are a form of “public school choice,” since parents choose to send their children to these schools and teachers choose to work there. The size of public charter schools depends on the design of the school as reflected in its charter contract, and whether the school can attract students. The income of a charter school is based on a per pupil allocation received for each of its students from the district of residence, plus grants and other fundraising. A charter school has flexibility in how it spends its funds and has to plan its budget to enable it to meet the goals of its contract and to avoid bankruptcy. Thus, the economic viability of a public charter school dep
