Charter Schools in the United States


Charter Schools in the United States


Charter schools in the United States are publicly funded primary or secondary education institutions that operate with a degree of autonomy or independence from local public school districts ¹ ². These schools have a contract with local public school districts or other governmental bodies that permit them to operate ¹ ². Charter schools are open to all students and do not charge tuition ¹ ².


*History of Charter Schools*


The charter school idea in the United States had several originating sources, including a 1971 book titled "Family Choice in Education" and a 1988 call for education reform from the president of the American Federation of Teachers ². The first state law authorizing charter schools was enacted in Minnesota in 1991, and the first charter school opened in St. Paul ².


*Characteristics of Charter Schools*


Charter schools are often founded by individuals or teacher-parent groups and may be managed by for-profit or non-profit charter or educational management organizations ². Some charter schools provide a specialized curriculum, such as arts, mathematics or vocational training ². Charter schools are accountable for student achievement to their sponsor and are allowed to remain open as long as they continue to meet the standards of their charter contract ².


*Statistics on Charter Schools*


- As of the 2021-2022 school year, an estimated 7,800 public charter schools were in operation