What Is a Charter School?

A charter school is a publicly funded school created and managed by interested individuals or groups from the public or private sector. The schools are accountable to the local school board and/or the state, but they are free from the complex regulations that often constrain school success. Charter schools are:

• Open to all students
• Non-selective in enrollment
• Non-religious
• Tuition-free
• Funded with public funds according to student enrollment

Charter schools operate with relative autonomy, independent of most state and local regulations. In exchange for this freedom, charter schools are held accountable to state learning standards through rigorous academic testing and high expectations of their students.