Charter schools are public schools that receive substantial freedom to innovate in school governance, educational programming, staffing, and budgeting, in exchange for strict accountability for student achievement. These schools may be newly created, or they may be conversions of existing schools.
Charter schools are subject to strict academic and operational accountability.
Educators, parents, universities, community organizations and institutions, businesses, and partnerships among them may apply to operate charter schools. In addition, existing public schools may apply to convert to charter status. As per charter school legislation 1999, approved schools receive charters of 5 to 10 years, which may be renewed based on successful performance, rather than the current 3 to 5 years. Charter schools are public schools in every sense. They offer high-quality options for Illinois' children and families and innovative educational models for the broader public system.