Charter schools are tuition-free public schools of choice that operate outside of the burdensome regulations and bureaucracy that characterize traditional schools.  In general, charter schools have more freedom to implement innovative techniques to achieve success, and often have a non-union staff which allows for the flexibility to have longer school days, longer school years, Saturday or summer school, and a variety of merit pay and staffing options.   

In 1991 Minnesota became the first state to pass a charter school law in the United States.  As of 2005, 40 states have passed charter school laws, and an estimated 3,400 charter schools were open in the 2004-05 school year.  The Center for Education Reform provides an analysis of the strength of the various laws, as well as updated statistics and Frequently Asked Questions about charter schools in the US.   

Charter school authorizers and academic requirements vary by state.  Approved schools are granted a conditional contract, or charter agreement, and are held accountable to achieving the standards of success outlined in the contract.  Typically charter schools must be reviewed and reauthorized every few years, ensuring the schools perform at a high level or risk being closed.   

Charter schools face the ultimate test of accountability: prove that children are learning through the achievement of clear, measurable goals, or be forced to close the school.  No traditional schools face such stringent terms.   

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released a statement in August 2005, outlining seven principals of quality chartering, and reaffirming the commitment to high quality charter schools.  For more information visit:  www.publiccharters.org.

“Renewing the Compact: A Statement by the Task Force on Charter School Quality and Accountability,” National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, August 10, 2005.

Corporations, Chambers, and Charters: How Businesses Can Support High-Quality Public Charter Schools, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workforce (October 2008)

A report issued by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for a Competitive Workforce encourages the business community to "serve as catalysts for the growing public charter school movement." The report recognizes that public charter schools are reversing the trend of students graduating "unprepared for further education and the jobs of the 21st Century."

The report calls for businesses and local chambers of commerce to "build a robust supply of high-quality new schools in the communities that need them; fuel the pipeline of human capital needed to operate the schools; address critical operational challenges the schools face; [and] forge charter-friendly public policies through state and local lawmaking."

The report also highlights activities in two areas in New York with high concentrations of high-quality charter schools: "In Albany, New York, charter schools enrolled approximately 20% of all public school students in 2007. As part of the Brighter Choice Public School Choice Project, the Brighter Choice Foundation and its partners anticipate that charter schools will attain a 25% market share of Albany’s students within the next one to two years… Harlem Parents United is devoted to improving education in all public schools in this New York City community by harnessing parental support and advocacy. Eva Moskowitz, founder of the new Harlem-based CMO Success Charter Network and former education chair on the New York City Council, is leading this effort. Charter schools are now educating about 25% of public school students in Harlem."