What is a charter school?
A charter school is an independently run school*. This independence allows charters to offer diverse educational models, offering a best-fit approach for students and their families.
The “charter” is granted by the state and engages the school in a contract based on its mission, educational model, population served, performance goals, etc. Some states have automatic closure laws for charters that fail to adhere to this contract. In Texas, a charter will be revoked after three consecutive years of poor academic or financial performance.
*This overview of charter schools does not include in-district charters, or schools operated by a traditional public school district as opposed to an independent charter management organization, due to their inherent differences (e.g., selective admissions).
What is the difference between charter schools and traditional public schools?
Like traditional public schools, charter schools are tuition free and open to all students, publicly funded based on enrollment, and must fulfill the same state and federal academic standards as traditional public schools.
Charter schools can exercise their autonomy when designing the curriculum, hiring teachers and staff, and setting the budget. While adhering to the same academic and financial performance goals as traditional public schools, charters have the flexibility to decide how they want to achieve those goals.
Who are charter schools accountable to?
In addition to being held accountable for the same academic standards as traditional public schools, charter schools are uniquely responsible in that they are directly accountable to the public. Students and their families are the most important stakeholders in ensuring a charter’s success.
Who attends charter schools?
Charter schools serve all students. Nationwide, students attending charter schools mirror the demographics of those attending traditional public schools. Charters do not have selective admissions requirements and accept all applicants including English language learners and students requiring accommodations. If the number of applications exceeds available seats, a public lottery is held.
What if I have more questions?
To find out more about charter schools in general, check out the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Center for Education Reform, or Texas Charter Schools Association.
For information about San Antonio charter schools, resources include San Antonio Charter Moms and Families Empowered.
