Public charter schools are free and open to all D.C. residents. Each PCS has its own mission and educational focus. They also must earn accreditation within five years. PCS's are not governed by the DC public school central administration. Instead, each school has its own governing board, or Board of Trustees, which includes at least two parents.
Charter schools have more freedom and flexibility than other D.C. public schools.
They tend to be smaller and encourage more involvement from parents. Charter schools offer a variety of educational programs. There are charter school programs that focus on the arts, technology, math, science, foreign languages, and more. For adults and older students, there are even charter schools for GED and career preparation. Charter schools are funded by the city on a per student basis just like regular public schools.