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

Introduction

Since the enactment of charter school legislation in Minnesota in 1991, the number of states with laws supporting charter schools has reached 32 plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Advocates believe charter school legislation provides a new, effective means of improving the education system by expanding the choices available to parents and students. Skeptics, however, question the promised effects and fear charter schools may lead to the demise of regular public schools. Regardless, charter schools are one of the fastest-growing reform movements in education, thanks in large part to political support across party lines.

Research is under way by the U.S. Department of Education and others to determine the effect of charter schools on student achievement, but it is too early for any definitive findings. Early studies, however, demonstrate that students, parents and teachers are satisfied with the charter school experience¹ and that charter schools are serving a population with roughly the same racial composition and percentage of low-income students as other public schools.²

Given the number of states that have enacted charter school legislation to date, there is surprisingly little consensus, however, about the design of this school reform. One problem is the lack of a common definition of a charter school. In this publication, charter schools are defined as autonomous public schools that are granted some freedom from district and state regulations, allowing them to use innovative methods for teaching, spending and hiring. With this autonomy comes accountability. If the school does not meet performance goals within a specified time, the charter may not be renewed and the school may be closed.

Across the country, charter school laws vary widely among states, directly affecting the number and types of schools that develop. In states such as Arizona, charter schools are granted maximum autonomy and are considered legally independent entities with a blanket waiver from district and state regulations. Other states, such as New Mexico, only allow existing public schools to convert to charter-school status. These "conversion" charter schools are considered part of the school district and are granted less freedom over budgets and personnel than charter schools in other states.

[Acknowledgments]

[How To Use This Document]

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