How Do Charter Schools Differ From Traditional District Public Schools?  

Charter schools operate from 3 basic principles:

Accountability: Charter schools are held accountable for how well they educate children in a safe and responsible environment, not for compliance with district and state regulations. They are judged on how well they meet the student achievement goals established by their charter, and how well they manage the fiscal and operational responsibilities entrusted to them. Charter schools must and do operate lawfully and responsibly, with the highest regard for equity and excellence.

Choice: Students choose to attend, and teachers choose to teach at charter schools.

Autonomy: Charter schools are freed from the traditional bureaucracy and regulations that divert a school's energy and resources toward compliance rather than excellence.

Why Are Charter Schools So Popular?  

Charters provide opportunity for better child-centered education. They provide the chance for communities to create the greatest range of educational choices for their children. Operators have the opportunity and the incentive to create schools that provide new and better services to students. And charters, bound only by the high standards they have set for themselves, inspire the rest of the system to work harder and be more responsive to the needs of the children.

How Are Charter Schools Funded?  

Charter schools are public schools. Like district public schools, they are funded according to enrollment (also called average daily attendance, or ADA), and receive funding from the district and the state according to the number of students attending.

No Child Left Behind Parent Notification

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 gives parents the right to know the professional qualifications of the teachers who instruct their children. You have a right to know if the teacher is state licensed or qualified, whether they are emergency certified or have a provisional status, the teacher's college major, and any additional advanced degrees the teacher may hold. Similar information is available regarding instructional aides and paraprofessionals. If you would like to receive any of this information, please contact our office and we will be glad to assist you.