Charter schools were first made possible during the 1990s, when legislature allowed people to begin setting up schools that would be ran independently of the traditional public school system. Forty states have now passed legislations that allow charter schools to be established within them. The precise definition of a charter school will vary between states, but the basic idea is always the same.
The creation of charter schools was intended to go beyond the traditional school system. Rather than trying to reform and improve existing public schools, the charter school movement aims to create something totally new. Charter schools are at the forefront of a revolution in education.
Since they are independent of the normal public school system, charter schools are free to meet the unique needs of the communities in which they are established. Some charter schools are still run in a traditional manner, but others have brought fresh ways of thinking into the classroom and the running of the school. Charter schools enable parents and children to choose from a greater range of educational options.
A charter school is essentially a nonsectarian public school that is run by a non-profit group rather than being part of the traditional public school system. Charter schools are still public schools, but they are not subject to all of the same regulations that govern normal public schools.
Each school is established by a charter or contract that details the school’s goals and the way in which it will be ran. A charter should describe the students who the school is intended to serve, the programs that will be offered and the ways in which students, and the success of the school, will be assessed. Most charters are granted for between three and five years. At the end of this term, the charter may be renewed.
Although charter schools are not required to adhere to the same rules as other public schools, they are held accountable. Each charter school must report their academic success and their financial situation to a sponsor, which may be a local school board. Charter schools will be held accountable by the parents of the students who attend the school, the sponsor granting their charter and their funding sources.