Charter schools are elementary or secondary schools in the United States that receive public money but have been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school’s charter. Charter schools are opened and attended by choice.
While charter schools provide an alternative to other public schools, they are part of the public education system and are not allowed to charge tuition. Where enrollment in a charter school is over subscribed, admission is frequently allocated by lottery-based admissions. In a 2008 survey of charter schools, 59% of the schools reported that they had a waiting list, averaging 198 students. Some charter schools provide a curriculum that specializes in a certain field—e.g. arts, mathematics, etc. Others attempt to provide a better and more efficient general education than nearby public schools.
Some charter schools are founded by teachers, parents, or activists who feel restricted by traditional public schools. State-authorised charters (schools not chartered by local school districts are often established by non-profit groups, universities, and some government entities. Additionally, school districts sometimes permit corporations to open chains of for-profit charter schools. In the United States, though the percentage of students educated in charter schools varies by school district, only in the New Orleans Public Schools system are the majority of children educated within independent public charter schools.
(copied from wikipedia)
Don
Interesting to note that in a nationwide survey of adults on charter schools commissioned by CER (Centre for Education Reform) it was found that while Americans lack a clear understanding about the nature, purpose and “charter” of charter schools,they solidly support several of the key principles that govern charters, such as:
(1) Allowing communities to come together to form schools to meet the needs of their children.
(2) Linking teacher pay to student performance
(3) Granting schools flexibility to set their own educational standards (so long as they meet government standards).
(4) Giving parents the option of sending their children to a number of different public schools, not just the one to which they are assigned.
Linking teacher pay to student performance would be a controversial proposal in Scotland, would it not? However, am I right in recalling that many years ago teachers in certain schools in Glasgow (and elsewhere?) received an enhancement to their pay to reflect the additional challenge of working with young people in socially deprived areas?