Charter Schools

A charter school is a publicly funded primary or secondary school that serves as an alternative to traditional school settings. The two underlying principles of charter schools are autonomy and accountability. Charter schools differ from traditional public schools in that they are not held to the same rules and regulations as public schools. Charter schools have total control of business, finance administration, and curriculum development and implementation. In exchange for this freedom, charter schools must demonstrate an innovative educational philosophy and be held accountable for student outcomes. Charter schools are typically smaller than traditional public schools, with a median enrollment of 242 students compared to 539 students in traditional public schools.

To gain authorization to function in such a manner a sponsor must award the school a charter or a contract that details the performance specifications of the school. A charter is typically granted for 3–5 years and includes...