The Detroit News. So, now Pagel is one of several dozen parents who have enrolled their children in the city's new charter school. The Metro Heritage Academy opens this fall. The new Romulus school is one of nearly 30 operated by the Grand Rapids-based National Heritage Academies.
Charter schools are public schools, paid for with public money.
They are sponsored by state universities, intermediate school districts and other publicly funded sources. The charter school movement flourishes in Metro Detroit. Detroit alone has opened a dozen. State legislators have allowed for the development of charter schools since 1994. Some charter schools focus on values and strict discipline.