Charter Schools
Not recommended by Public School Exit
They are government funded schools subject to fewer rules, regulations, and statues than traditional state schools. They are independently run with their own governing boards often established, operated, and maintained by for-profit organizations. They are open to all students and do not charge tuition. They receive less public funding than public schools, typically a fixed amount per pupil. Approximately 7,000 public charter schools operate in 43 states and the District of Columbia with approximately 3.1 million students, a six-fold increase in enrollment over the past 15 years. However, many charter schools close due to low enrollment, lack of finances, or low performance The charter school idea in the U.S.was originated by Ray Budde, in 1974 and Albert Shanker, President of the American Federation of Teachers, embraced the concept in 1988 when he called for the reform of public schools by establishing “charter schools” or “schools of choice.” The first charter school law was in Minnesota in 1991 followed by California in 1992.