CharterSchool: An Introduction
A charter school may be defined as a public school to which local and state regulations do not apply. Although charter schools maintain this freedom, they are still held accountable for their students’ performance. If the goals of their charters are not met, then charters are not renewed.
In most cases, a state or a local school board issues the individual school's contract or charter. Several states have created school boards particularly responsible for monitoring charter schools (B. Nelson et al., 2000).
As described by Finn et al. (2000), a charter school is considered a mixture of public and private schools. Like public schools, charter schools are open to all students, however some may have a particular focus that is possible to appeal to some families more than others. Nevertheless, charter schools are like private schools in that they are independent and autonomous, and the students, parents, and teachers choose to participate in the school. In contrast either traditional public or private schools, charter schools are viewed by some as more accountable for student performance since the school may be closed if it fails to produce promised or desired results (Finn et al., 2000).
Only 31 of the 36 states that have passed charter school laws have in fact established schools. Charter school proponents assert that the number of charter schools is related to the type of legislation passed. Some of the factors that establish the ease of starting or converting a school are the number of authorities eligible to grant charters; the number of charters granted in a given year; term of the initial charter; and whether or not formal evidence of local support is required. Many states are amending their existing laws and removing caps and sunset provisions, which define charter schools as a........
