What Are Public Charter Schools?

Charter schools are independent public schools with the freedom to add new learning possibilities while increasing student achievement. They foster a partnership between parents, teachers, and students to create an environment where parents are more involved, teachers innovate, and students are provided the structure they need to learn. Our students’ love for learning and improved achievement is the desired outcome. 

Public charter schools are public schools intended to strengthen our nation’s school system. They operate independently of a school district, and they are:

• Tuition-free and open to every student who wishes to enroll
• Non-sectarian. We do not discriminate on any basis
• Publicly funded by local, state, and federal tax dollars based on enrollment, like other public schools
• Accountable to state and federal academic standards

Charter schools are free to innovate in ways that improve student achievement. Here are some specific examples of how charter schools do it:
  
1. Custom school schedules. Charter schools can set custom operating hours. The school strives to boost student achievement by giving students more time on projects and outdoor learning, by organizing more field trips, and by offering extra classes in the evening, on weekends, or during the summer months. 

2. Curriculum that meets student needs. A charter school can give students more time with core subjects. Charter school teachers help design curriculum and add materials throughout the school year whenever it benefits student learning. 

3. Create a unique school culture. Charter schools add to core academic subjects by adopting a learning theme. For example, there are charter schools focused on STEM education, performing arts, project-based learning, college preparation, career readiness, language immersion, civic engagement, classical education, global awareness, or meeting the needs of autistic students—just to name a few. 

4. Develop next-generation learning models. Charter schools are completely rethinking the meaning of the word “classroom.” In Hawaii, students learn biology with the sky as their ceiling and the ocean as their classroom. Virtual schools, which exist completely online, use technology to change classroom dynamics. Others combine virtual classroom time with classroom time in a physical school building. In either case, students learn from experts located anywhere in the world. Excellent charter school management companies like KIPP and Uncommon Schools are codifying how to build superb teacher education and professional development programs.