What are Charter Schools?
Charter schools are public schools. Charter schools are publicly funded, tuition-free public schools, open to all students on the basis of an agreement or "charter" between the school and the comunity.
Charter Schools are authorized and monitored by BESE or the local school board. Each year every charter school must demonstrarte academic achievement and fiscal and legal compliance with state laws and regulations.
Charter schools must abide by the same high-stakes testing policies as traditional public schools. All charter school students must take the LEAP, the iLEAP, and the Graduation Exit Exam.
Charter schools are governed by a local board of community members. Charter schools are governed by a nonprofit board that must comply with open meeting laws, providing a forum for parents and community members to discuss the schools' operation, and bears responsibility for fund raising and other activities which support and enhance their charter school's success.
Charter schools empower principals and teachers. Charter school educators have on-site decision-making power to hire and fire all staff, to set their own pay scales, to create their own curricula, and to extend the school day, school week, and school year as needed.