Accountability D.C. Public Charter School Accountability Public charter schools in the District, though non-profit corporations entirely independent of the central school administration, are of course accountable to the public. Public charter schools must also obey special education and civil rights laws and must maintain the health and safety of their students. The School Reform Act sets up a comprehensive scheme for holding the District's public charter schools accountable in these two areas. As to public funds, the Act requires that each school annually submit to its chartering board an audited financial statement. Schools which engage in a pattern of fiscal mismanagement, fail to follow standard accounting practices, or are not financially viable can be closed down at any time.
Academic accountability is ensured in a number of ways.
Each public charter school must administer the Stanford 9 test each year to all of its students. Each public charter school must seek, obtain, and maintain accreditation from a national or regional accrediting body. Each public charter school must annually report on the academic progress of its students to its chartering board. And each public charter school that does not meet its academic goals faces closure at the fifth year. Market forces also play an important part in the accountability scheme set out in the School Reform Act.