Thus, the school would be accountable for meeting the terms of its own charter rather than the rules and regulations of the local school district. A charter school can be closed by the sponsoring organization if it does not meet the terms and conditions outlined in this charter. Charter schools are also schools of choice, meaning that parents voluntarily elect to enroll their children there. To succeed, charter schools must win and keep the confidence of parents and teachers. Charter schools cannot survive if they fail to attract families and retain teachers.
Charter schools are public schools.
They receive operating funds directly from the state and are not allowed to charge tuition or fees. A charter school budget depends on how many students the school serves, since funding is allocated on a per pupil basis. Charter schools do not receive any capital or local levy funds unless their district of residence allows it. In Washington, any student who submits a timely application to a charter school can attend, provided there is space available. Most charter schools are small schools, with enrollments averaging around 250 students, compared with an average of 710 students at traditional public schools.