Charter school | Benefits, Types & Challenges (2024)

education

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

printPrint

Please select which sections you would like to print:

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Written by

Suzanne E. Eckes Professor ofeducational law and policy, Indiana University, Bloomington. Her contributionsto SAGE Publications'Encyclopedia of Education Law (2008) formed the basis of her contributions...

Suzanne E. Eckes

Fact-checked by

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Article History

charter school

See all media

Key People:
Betsy DeVos
Related Topics:
school

See all related content →

charter school, a publicly funded tuition-free school of choice that has greater autonomy than a traditional public school. In exchange for increased autonomy, charter schools are held accountable for improving student achievement and meeting other provisions of their charters. Charter schools are most often new schools that were not in existence before the charter was granted; a traditional public or private school may also convert to charter school status. The term charter school is used almost exclusively to describe government-funded and largely autonomous schools in the United States and in the Canadian province of Alberta.

Origin and operation

In the United States, where charter schools are most prevalent, state laws dictate a range of activities, including school funding, student and staff recruitment, and charter attainment status. Although the details vary by state, some generalizations can be made. For example, charter schools are not typically constrained by traditional public school requirements, such as certain bureaucratic and union rules. In some states such flexibility includes the freedom to hire teachers (including those who lack state certification) on the basis of the schools’ own standards and to adopt specific curricula. Some charter schools may even create their own calendars and set the length of their school days.

The first charter school law was passed in 1991 in Minnesota, and the first charter school was established there in 1992. By 1995 an additional 18 states had passed charter school legislation. The charter school movement then experienced tremendous growth. From the 2003–04 to the 2013–14 school year, the number of charter schools in the United States doubled, growing from 3,000 to 6,000, with the proportion of students enrolled in the schools increasing from 1.6 to 5.1 percent. Charter schools have an open admissions process. When more students apply than can be accommodated, officials typically rely on lotteries to select students randomly.

Because charter schools function as public schools, their operators receive charters from public agencies, usually state or local school boards. Charters are performance contracts that establish each school and contain provisions related to financial plans, curriculum, and governance. The entities that issue charters, usually referred to as sponsors or authorizers, hold the charter school accountable for its performance. Charters are issued for defined limited terms of operation, usually from three to five years. As a result, if charter schools fail to meet the provisions of their charters, the sponsor may take steps to close them down. Indeed, it is generally much easier for sponsors to revoke the charters of charter schools than it is for authorities to close traditional public schools.

Charter schools have varied greatly in terms of student achievement. The range in charter school quality can be explained by the lack of a uniform design among the large number of schools in operation. Nevertheless, the threat of competition from traditional public schools and other charter schools has forced charter school sponsors and organizers to maintain high standards of accountability. However, research on the actual impact of charter school education on student success has remained inconclusive, and thus the value of charter schools is a subject of intense debate.

Rationales and critiques

A primary reason for founding charter schools was to seek an alternative vision of schooling that could not be realized in the traditional public schools. The market metaphor for choice and competition became an essential part of the charter school discussion. Free-market advocates reasoned that charter schools would either stimulate weaker public schools to improve or would drive them out of the education arena through the process of market-based accountability. In so doing, charter schools could encourage systemic change by providing more educational choices, creating competitive market forces.

Are you a student? Get a special academic rate on Britannica Premium.

Learn More

Many critics argued, however, that charter schools would damage public school systems by diverting resources. Others claimed that the market-based mentality behind charter schools encourages them to engage in practices that are irrelevant to or unproductive for education. For example, many charter schools attract students by using gimmicks, such as free gift cards, enabling the schools to show progress in enrollment while putting few resources toward genuine learning and the improvement of student performance.

Suzanne E. EckesThe Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Charter school | Benefits, Types & Challenges (2024)

FAQs

What are the benefits of attending a charter school? ›

Charter schools have unique standards than traditional public schools that let them focus, employ unique teaching methods, and refrain from the strict rules followed by public schools. Charter schools only raise funds for other additional facilities and are a great substitute to the traditional public schools' system.

What are the downsides of charter schools? ›

While public schools serve the local community by accepting all local students who enroll, charter schools are selective and only serve a small segment of students. They also tend to be more racially segregated than traditional public schools and often fail to serve students with special needs.

What are the pros and cons of teaching at a charter school? ›

Teaching at a Charter School: Pros and Cons

While variety, flexibility and smaller class sizes may sound appealing, they often come with lower pay and longer hours. Charter school teaching jobs tend to be easier to find than positions in public schools, and this is a great option for new teachers.

What are the benefits of a class charter? ›

They teach children about their rights

Creating a charter helps children to understand what they need to survive and thrive as human beings. The rules that teachers put in place help them to provide what is laid out by the United Nations, but they also help children learn how to advocate for themselves.

Why do parents send their child to charter schools? ›

Greater Focus on Individual Students

One of the many reasons for this increased enrollment is the focus charter schools have on individual students. These schools are typically smaller than traditional public schools, which leads to lower class sizes and more individual attention for each student.

Why do charter schools perform better? ›

Because charters tend to serve far fewer students with disabilities and fewer who don't speak English as their first language, they can appear to be higher performing. Many charters do not “backfill” when students leave or take older students. Charter schools keep only the students they want.

Why do charter schools get a bad reputation? ›

The most common arguments about charter schools are that: Charters steal kids and money from traditional public ISDs. Charters are selective and operate like private schools. Public charter schools don't enroll students from historically underserved families.

What is a criticism of charter schools? ›

Not only do the high rates of teacher turnover any benefits presented by "race-matching," but charters overall increase racial segregation. When compared to public schools, the rate of racial segregation within charters is "extraordinarily high." Finally, charters tend to discriminate against disabled students as well.

Why are charter schools so strict? ›

With state pressure for high academic performance, charter schools have co-evolved strict behavioral standards and expectations to prevent distractions from learning.

Why do teachers unions oppose charter schools? ›

Charter school teachers are paid less than their counterparts at public schools and have higher turnover rates. They also face a lack of job security, because charter schools close with alarming frequency.

Why do teachers teach at charter schools? ›

Pros of teaching at a charter school

For example, teachers may have more freedom to assist special education or at-risk students in reaching their potentials. Academic excellence: Many charter schools enable students to perform excellently in math, reading and other class subjects.

Do other countries have charter schools? ›

Chile has a very long history of private subsidized schooling, akin to charter schooling in the United States. Before the 1980s, most private subsidized schools were religious and owned by churches or other private parties, but they received support from the central government.

What is the main purpose of a charter? ›

The project charter is a document that officially starts a project or a phase. It formally authorizes the existence of the project and provides a reference source for the future. The charter gives a direction and a sense of purpose to the management from start to end.

Who benefits from the charter? ›

The Charter protects those basic rights and freedoms of all Canadians that are considered essential to preserving Canada as a free and democratic country. It applies to all governments – federal, provincial and territorial – and includes protection of the following: fundamental freedoms, democratic rights.

Are charter schools beneficial to students because they often have smaller class sizes? ›

Smaller classes give teachers more time and opportunity to connect with each student and understand their unique needs. Teachers can give more attention to each student and help them to reach their full potential.

What are the benefits of the charter? ›

The Charter protects those basic rights and freedoms of all Canadians that are considered essential to preserving Canada as a free and democratic country.

What are the benefits of a program charter? ›

Benefits of a Project Charter

Clarifies the Budget: Since a project charter includes a budget, it may explain whether or not it's financially feasible. Boosts Team Morale: When a project has a clear direction through a project charter, team members are more likely to get excited and motivated to get started.

What is the difference between a charter school and a public school in California? ›

A charter school is an independently run public school that is granted greater flexibility in its operations than a traditional public school in exchange for greater accountability for performance. Charter schools operate under a “charter,” which is a contract between the school and its authorizing agency.

What are the advantages of traditional public schools? ›

Traditional schooling not only promotes academic growth but also offers valuable social benefits. In addition to the academic curriculum, students in traditional schools have the opportunity to develop important social skills and engage with diverse perspectives.

References

Top Articles
Richard Sambade Obituary
Word Trip 794
LOST JEEPS • View forum
San Fernando Craigslist Pets
Australian Gold zonbescherming review - Verdraaid Mooi
Boomerang Uk Screen Bug
Indiana girl set for final surgery 5 years after suffering burns in kitchen accident
Nosetf
2167+ Unique Pieces of Authentic Mid Century Modern Furniture In Stock - furniture - by dealer - sale - craigslist
Cincinnati Adult Search
Stella.red Leaked
Craigslist Pets Longview Tx
The Canterville Ghost Showtimes Near Northwoods Cinema 10
Fy23 Ssg Evaluation Board Fully Qualified List
Ticket To Paradise Showtimes Near Laemmle Newhall
La Qua Brothers Funeral Home
2024 Coachella Predictions
Shore Lodge Webcam
As Trump and Harris spar, ABC's moderators grapple with conducting a debate in a polarized country
Newsweek Wordle
My Time Banner Health
309 Marshall Passage
Brise Stocktwits
Westgate Trailer Mountain Grove
Frontier Internet Outage Davenport Fl
Female Same Size Vore Thread
Aleksandr: Name Meaning, Origin, History, And Popularity
Po Box 182223 Chattanooga Tn 37422 7223
Drive Mad Yandex
Urgent Care Near Flamingo Crossings Village
Currently Confined Coles County
Understanding P Value: Definition, Calculation, and Interpretation - Decoding Data Science
Charles Bengry Commerce Ca
Gargoyle Name Generator
Lvpg Orthopedics And Sports Medicine Muhlenberg
Ewing Irrigation Prd
Harpel Hamper
C And B Processing
8 Common Things That are 7 Centimeters Long | Measuringly
NO CLUE: deutsche Übersetzung von NCT 127
Experity Installer
[PDF] Canada - Free Download PDF
Exploring The Craigslist Washington DC Marketplace - A Complete Overview
Meggen Nut
Lifetime Benefits Login
Criagslist Orlando
Stpeach Forum
Costco Gas Prices Sioux Falls
Stuckey Furniture
South Florida residents must earn more than $100,000 to avoid being 'rent burdened'
Restaurants Near Defy Trampoline Park
Craigslist Org Sd Ca
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arielle Torp

Last Updated:

Views: 5547

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arielle Torp

Birthday: 1997-09-20

Address: 87313 Erdman Vista, North Dustinborough, WA 37563

Phone: +97216742823598

Job: Central Technology Officer

Hobby: Taekwondo, Macrame, Foreign language learning, Kite flying, Cooking, Skiing, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.