After visiting school sites and interviewing personnel both at the school and district level, the Education Committee presented an overview Saturday, March 18, of the four charter schools that currently operate in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. This is both a state and local League study and will be continued next year.
Charter schools are public schools that operate under contract with a governing body.
They enjoy some exemptions required of regular public schools, including some fiscal and curriculum independence. Currently there are 161 charter schools in operation in the state. This money is available only one time. However, funding increases for students who have special needs and this weighted funding can increase six-fold for profoundly retarded students. Charter schools provide student transportation and may purchase buses or take ones the counties are no longer using.