Definition+and+Role

Like mentioned earlier, a charter school is a public school, and it may provide instruction in any of grades K-12. A charter school is usually created or organized by a group of teachers, parents and community leaders or a community-based organization, and it is usually sponsored by an existing local public school board or county board of education. Specific goals and operating procedures for the charter school are detailed in an agreement (or "charter") between the sponsoring board and charter agency

They are funded with public money (except for their facilities) and they are an alternative to regular public schools systems. A private group of people can submit and get approved a charter to run their own school. Charter schools receive waivers from public school districts in exchange for promising better academic results. Charters are usually given for 3-5 years, where an eye is kept on academic performance. If academic performance lags behind comparable public schools, then the “charter” is pulled and the school is closed.

Charter Schools are schools of choice. Choice to parents, students, teachers, and administrators. Parents and students get to choose to enroll in a school that may offer a unique learning environment, alternative learning methodologies, etc. Teachers and administrators get more authority to make decisions than most traditional public schools. Basically, these schools are free from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools. Charter Schools tend to be small schools (median enrollment is 242 students compared to 539 in traditional public schools) and serve different communities with a wide variety of curriculum and instructional practices.

To better understand what a charter school is, you need to know what lawmakers seek to do by drafting charter school laws. In most states, they want to:

(Source: US Charter Schools (http://www.uscharterschools.org)
 * Increase opportunities for learning and provide access to quality education for people.
 * Create choice for parents and students within the public school system
 * Provide a system of accountability for results in public education
 * Encourage innovative teaching practices
 * Create new professional opportunities for teachers
 * Encourage community and parent involvement in public education.
 * Leverage improved public education