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Charter schools offer an alternative to typical cookie-cutter public schools. Charter schools are community-based schools that operate under a "charter" from the state, hence, the name "charter school." All but ten states have some form of charter school legislation, the exceptions being Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Alabama, Kentucky, West Virginia, Vermont, and Maine. Charter schools typically focus on specialties like the arts or sciences, while continuing to deliver the core curriculum required by the state. These schools receive some tax support (though 22% less on average than the traditional public schools), and attendance is free. Charter schools are 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations, and there are over 3,500 of them in the U.S. today, serving over one-million students.

The state department of education, sometimes called the department of public instruction, grants a number of charters to create new public schools based on need and population. Citizen groups apply to the state for these charters, and they then form their own governing school board, made up of community volunteers. That's right, they are not governed by the county school board, giving the charter school a substantial degree of autonomy. The charter school board determines the curriculum, the structure, and the over all direction of the school. Typically, a charter school board is made up of concerned parents and community leaders. A well-assembled charter school board will have members whose vocations and interests align with the mission of the school. For example, an arts-based charter school would have school board members from the local symphony and the arts community. The board also hires the principal and, in consultation with the principal, the teachers. The board is required by law to operate the school responsibly, both in terms of education and finances. Each year, the charter school must complete an audit and account to the state.

Charter schools typically received no funds from the state for capital expenditures. That means that the school has to buy or lease its school building at its own expense. This typically requires charter schools to fund raise much more than the car washes and bake sales run by public school groups. Charter schools also rely heavily public and private grants and a special federal grant program from the U.S. Department of Education, called the Charter School Program, which Congress authorized in 1998.

Charter schools developed in response to the perceived under-achievement of traditional public schools. In contrast to traditional public schools, charter schools have more flexibility in delivering on the "Three R's." For example, it is not unusual to have first graders writing poetry and learning sign language or fourth graders studying Shakespeare and Mayan civilization. Parents and teachers generally choose charter schools for educational reasons, such as high academic standards, small class size, innovative teaching, or particular educational philosophies. Some also choose charter schools for their relatively small size. Charter schools typically serve an average of 150-300 students.

Other than that, charter schools act very much like regular public schools. The First Amendment still applies, so school prayers and religious instruction are not allowed. Other federal eduction laws, like the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act ("IDEA"), which governs the rights of children with special needs, also apply.

Learn more about this author, Jake Marsch.
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