Charter schools are independent public schools. - They are designed and operated not by the local school district, but by a group of founders like parents, educators, and community leaders. Founders must obtain a charter-the specific contractual authority to run the charter school-from an authorizer established under their state's law, such as a college, state chartering board, or local school board.

Public school funding follows the students enrolled in the charter school, and founders have a great deal of independence to decide the school's budget, staff, curriculum and teaching methods. In many states, charter schools are exempt from most state and local regulation, with important exceptions like laws and rules dealing with health and safety, special education and civil rights.

Though independent, charter schools ensure accountability. - Schools must meet strict academic performance standards and other goals agreed to in the charter, and must successfully manage school finances and operations. It's simple: no results, no charter. If charter schools don't perform, they are closed. That's greater accountability than is generally required of district public schools.

Charter schools offer different choices within public education. - Charter schools are all of these: one grade or 12 grades; year-round or extended-days; back-to-basics or state-of-the-art technology; environmental mission or arts focus; business/labor partnership; specialized teaching strategies; priority for special needs students; or use of culturally appropriate curricula.

Charter schools expect parents to be involved. - It is not unusual to see parents painting the school corridors or laying the carpet before the charter school opens. Some schools require parents to volunteer a certain number of hours at the school; and others have parents sign contracts committing them to read aloud to their children or review their homework at home.

Charter schools offer opportunities to innovate. - Have all successful learning strategies been developed? Of course not. Since the average size of charter schools is small (about 250 students), the opportunity to innovate is greater. Thomas Peters, author of In Search of Excellence, observed that large organizations are seldom responsible for major advances in their industries.

"It doesn't look like school. It looks like learning."
- Sign on a charter school door

© 2003 by AfroStaff