Charter schools are legally independent public schools created through a formal agreement between a group of individuals, such as teachers or parents, and a sponsor, usually a local school board or state department. As an incentive, charter schools are freed from most state codes and local policies regarding curriculum, instruction, budget, and personnel. Unlike other public schools, if a charter school fails to meet these terms, the charter can be revoked and the school closed. In the competition for parents and students, charter schools are intended to challenge other public schools to raise their standards and become more responsive to what parents and students need from public education.
Charter schools are one of the fastest growing reforms in education.
In 1992, only two states had passed charter school legislation. With the number of charter schools across the country approaching 500, it is clear that this reform movement is not about to fade away anytime soon. No two charter schools are alike, and there are vastly different expectations for what they can accomplish. This diversity is largely due to variations in state law. Stronger charter school laws are more likely to encourage innovation and produce a successful system of independent schools, while weaker laws limit school independence as well as innovation.