They report to a separate public agency, usually at the state level. Those schools are, to a large degree, independent of the existing board of education and its regulations. The schools are required to meet certain state standards and if they do not, they are closed. But they are given a large degree of freedom in the selection of curriculum and teachers. Charter schools select their populations and many concentrate on accepting students who have not done well in the regular public school, have been disruptive there or are drop-outs.
Charter schools provide choice, competition and accountability.
A third proposal came about when I was Mayor and visited the Board of Education headquarters and spoke with the Chancellor's top 25 administrators. I suggested that professionals teach a public school class twice a month. While many of the Board of Education staff objected to the proposal, they had no choice but to go along since I told them I would teach a class even if no one else joined me. It was decided that we would teach seventh grade classes, serve as role models for the children, and provide them with new experiences. Each of these unique teachers would bring a class to their place of work on at least one occasion.