What are public charter schools?

Charter schools are public schools with unique traits that increase the likelihood of a successful education for a child.  

What makes charter schools different? 

Charter schools have increased flexibility to adapt to the educational needs of individual children, make timely decisions about developing curriculum, structure the school day, and hire teachers who meet the needs of their students.  

Charters operate within a multi-tiered accountability system – to parents, authorizers, the state, and lenders – that leads to quality schools and high achievement.  

Parents elect to send their children to charters, and teachers choose to work in them.  

How many students are enrolled in charter schools?

There are over 4,600 charter schools across the country, educating over 1.3 million children.  The first charter school was created in Minnesota in 1992, and since then 39 other states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation creating public charter schools.