A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

The Charter School Roadmap, September 1998

Appendix Table C. State-by-State Analysis of
Charter School Laws5

Autonomy/Regulation

State Students Autonomy/Regulation
Types Served Waivers Budget Standards/Assessment Staff
Alaska All Some exemptions specified; others must be specified Autonomy granted Charter selects own textbooks and curricula and programs; testing may be waived by request; state standards not addressed by statute Limited
Arizona All Full waiver Autonomy granted State standards and assessments apply Granted
Arkansas All Waivers defined in charter Limited State standards apply Not addressed
California All Full waiver from state; district waiver defined in charter Allowed if specified in charter State standards and assessments apply Granted
Colorado Preference for at-risk students Waivers defined in charter Negotiated; receive minimum of 80% PPE from district State and district standards apply; assessments defined in charter Defined in charter
Connecticut Preference given to applications in district in which 75% or more of enrolled students are members of ethnic or racial minorities; must provide admissions criteria to promote diverse student body Waivers defined in charter Autonomy granted Subject to statewide exams Limited
Delaware All Full waiver Autonomy granted State standards and assessments apply Granted
District of Columbia Preference five to schools focusing on students with special needs Full waiver Granted; must list planned or proposed contracts of $10,000 or more in charter District assessments apply, standards and methods for evaluating achievement set in charter Granted
Florida Preference for at-risk students Full waiver Autonomy granted Statewide assessment program applies Granted
Georgia All Waivers defined in charter. Full waiver of any state and local rule, regulation, policy and procedure not addressed in the charter agreement or statute Negotiated State education goals apply Not addressed
Hawaii All Full waiver except collective bargaining Limited State performance standards apply; may be exempt from statewide testing system Not addressed
Idaho All Full waiver Limited State assessments apply Defined in charter
Illinois Emphasis on at-risk students Full waiver except criminal background checks, student discipline, abused and neglected child reporting, and student records act Autonomy granted Statewide goals, standards and assessments apply Granted
Kansas Emphasis on at-risk students Waivers defined in charter Limited Defined in charter Not addressed
Louisiana Requires that the percentage of at-risk students enrolled no be less than the percentage of those enrolled in the local district Exempt from most; rules and regulations applicable defined in statutes Autonomy granted Statewide assessments apply; students must meet graduation requirements Defined in charter
Massachusetts All Waivers defined in charter Autonomy granted for start up; negotiated for Horace Mann State performance standards, testing and portfolio requirements apply Considered a public employer
Michigan All Waivers defined in charter Autonomy granted Standards must be defined in the charter; law lists acceptable assessment tests Granted
Minnesota All Full waiver Autonomy granted Programs designed to at least meet the outcomes adopted by the state board; assessment not addressed Employees considered public employees
Mississippi All Full waiver; provision required in charter Limited District and state standards and assessments apply Limited; employees considered as part of the district
Nevada Preference for at-risk students Waivers defined in charter with limited exemptions granted to all charters Limited Statewide assessment applies; students must meet graduation requirements Limited; employees considered as part of the district
New Hampshire All Full waiver Autonomy granted Achievement goals defined in charter; annual evaluations must include NH statewide education improvement and assessment program Granted
New Jersey All; law encourages charters in urban school districts with participation of institutions of higher education Waivers defined in charter with limited exemptions to all charters Granted; receives between 90-100% of local levy budget per pupil State testing and performance standards apply Granted
New Mexico All Exemptions granted only for class size and structure, flexibility and alternative curriculum and budget opportunities Autonomy granted; local board ensures sound fiscal practices are followed Statewide assessments apply Not addressed
North Carolina All; preference for at-risk students Full waiver; local board-sponsored schools must negotiate district waiver Autonomy granted Must meet standards set by state and local board; must conduct required assessments for charters by the state board Granted
Ohio All Full waiver upon request; must be open minimum of 920 hours a year Autonomy granted Defined in charter but must include statewide proficiency tests Not addressed
Pennsylvania All Exempt from most; not exempt from statutes that apply to public schools other than the Public School Code Autonomy granted Defined in charter; statewide assessments apply Granted
Rhode Island At least 10 of 20 schools must expand opportunities for at-risk pupils Waivers defined in charter May not set teacher salaries or financial benefits State and national education goals, standards and assessments apply Limited
South Carolina All; must ensure school complies with desegregation requirements Full waiver from state rules and regulations must have state agreements regarding release from district policies Autonomy granted Students must meet or exceed district standards; statewide assessments Granted
Texas All; preference for at-risk in that the cap on number of schools is waived Full waiver from Education Code; exemptions from school board rules and policies defined in the charter Autonomy for start ups with limited control for conversion schools Student performance requirements defined in charter; must include required curricula; participation in state assessments apply Not addressed
Utah All Must apply to the state board for each rule Charters receive full state funding and half of the amount of the resident districts' student expenditure State standards and assessments apply Granted
Virginia Priorities given to applications designed to increase the educational opportunities of at-risk students and at least one-half of the charter schools per division shall be reserved for such applications. Waivers defined in the charter Negotiated Not waived from the Standards of Quality Limited; employees considered as part of the district
Wisconsin All Full waiver from state laws and rules but not local board policies Determined by charter State education goals apply; assessment of progress toward those goals defined in charter Not addressed
Wyoming All Waivers defined in the charter Specified in the charter Minimum standards apply Not addressed

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[Appendix Table C. State-by-State Analysis of Charter School Laws, Appeals & Approval] [Table of Contents] [Appendix Table C. State-by-State Analysis of Charter School Laws, Funding]

This page was last updated January 9, 2002 (jca)