Tuition-free. Open to Everyone. Accountable.

Charter schools are public schools run by independent entities sponsored by a state-approved organization such as a state board of education, a state university, community college or local school district. The voluntary enrollment structure is intended to make charter schools more accountable for student achievement. As a result, charter schools are granted some level of autonomy and freedom from certain local and state regulations. Accordingly, charter schools may hire their own staff, develop their own curriculum and set their own educational programs and methods of operation under the oversight of the school board and authorizer/sponsor.

Tuition-free
Charter schools receive funds on a per-student basis from the state in which they operate, just like traditional public schools do. Likewise, just like traditional public schools, charter schools do not charge tuition.

Open To Everyone
Charter schools must admit any student who applies unless the classroom capacity is exceeded, in which case a public lottery is held to randomly fill the available seats.

Accountable

In addition to adhering to all of the same state and local rules and regulations that public schools must adhere to, charter schools have an added level of accountability. They are overseen by their charter authorizer, and if a charter school does not meet specific standards as determined by the state and its authorizer, the school's charter may not be renewed which would result in it being shut down. They are also held accountable by their school board, who has ultimate responsibility for meeting the requirements of the charter. Finally, charter schools are held accountable by parents who are there by choice and can ultimately "vote with their feet" by choosing another school if they aren't satisfied.