What is a Charter School?
A charter school is a privately managed public school. A charter school is funded with public monies and open to students in the district in which it is located. Charter schools are designed by local citizens – including parents, teachers, and community leaders – to fulfill a specific and locally driven educational mission. The academic life, daily operations, and staff are managed by the citizens, educators, and board members responsible for the school itself. 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.
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. More on this and other
Charter schools are K-12 public schools started by parents, teachers, and/or community members who apply to the Minnesota Department of Education for a “charter,” which defines the school’s specific mission and goals, and how these goals will be measured. Charter schools are accountable to their sponsors, parents and families, the state, and the public for achieving measurable results in student achievement and for implementing fiscally sound management. Sponsors of charter schools vary widely but are often charitable or service organizations, local school districts, or post-secondary institutions. Charter schools are extremely diverse in their focuses. From project-based high schools to arts-intensive schools to online learning and technology-focused schools, the missions of charter schools in Minnesota vary widely. Since charter schools are public schools, they are open to anyone, free of charge. What is the difference between a charter school and other public schools? Charter school
A Charter school is a nonsectarian, tuition-free, public elementary or secondary school that is exempt from significant state or local rules that inhibit the flexible operation and management of public schools. In Missouri, a charter school is a publicly funded school that, in accordance with an enabling state statute, has been granted a charter exempting it from selected state or local rules and regulations. A charter school may be newly created, or it may previously have been a public or private school; it is typically governed by a group or organization (e.g., a group of educators, a corporation, or a university) under public supervision and direction. In return for funding and autonomy, the charter school must meet high accountability standards. A school’s charter is reviewed (every 5 years) and can be revoked if guidelines on curriculum and management are not followed or the standards are not met.
Charter schools are independent, accountable, public schools of choice. Charter schools are given considerable freedom in developing their academic program and organizational structure, often bringing innovative new schools to communities where the existing schools are failing to provide students with an adequate education. They control their own curriculum, staffing, organization and budget. In exchange for this freedom, they must maximize student potential and meet all state standards. In return, charter schools are held more accountable for the academic performance of their students than traditional public schools. The name “charter” derives from the fact that schools are granted charters by a state or local board of education, special charter-school board, or so-called charter authorizer — an entity such as a nonprofit group, government agency, or university with state authority to grant charters.
