While different in these and other ways, charter schools must follow the same state standards, take the same tests, and abide by virtually all the same laws and regulations as other public schools. There is no limit on the number of schools that can be established in a given city or town, however, there is a limit on how much of a school district's budget can go to Commonwealth charter schools. Under the law, no school district's total charter school tuition payment to Commonwealth charter schools can exceed 6 percent of said district's net school spending. Currently, several districts are at or approaching their cap for charter tuition spending. Applications that do not meet the criteria listed in the application are denied.
Charter schools are one of the most scrutinized elements of education reform.
Formal evaluation is done by the Massachusetts Department of Education, which collects and analyzes reports, conducts annual site visits, and monitors the performance of charter schools. The Board of Education will use these data and reports in making decisions regarding the renewal of charters. Each school must develop an accountability contract that describes the school's objectives as well as the measures the school will use to document progress toward those objectives, including credible student assessment tools that will demonstrate the academic progress of students. In addition, charter schools are subject to an annual day-long site visit conducted by a small group of Massachusetts citizens who are not involved in the school. The purpose of these visits is to augment and verify the information contained in the annual report and to learn firsthand as much as possible about the school's performance.