Charter Schools; The Basics

Charter schools are publicly funded elementary or secondary schools that 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 charter school's charter. Charter schools increase the educational opportunities that are available in a particular community. Having a charter school in the neighborhood may even encourage the traditional public schools in the area to perform better since they will have to compete with the charter school. Charter schools often produce excellent academic results.
Charter schools provide an environment in which innovative new ideas about education can be applied to provide a happier and more successful learning experience. The teachers in many charter schools are highly qualified and satisfied with their working conditions. This means that they are able to provide a better level of care to their students.
Charter schools also tend to encourage parents to become involved in their children’s education and to play a role in the running of the school. This can be very beneficial since it helps make the school a part of the community and to ensure that children are encouraged to see learning as a lifelong and enjoyable activity. However, the involvement of parents and teachers in the running of the school can also cause problems since they may not have the expertise needed to create a successful school.
A charter school can be a good environment for a child who will not thrive in the normal public school system. Some children perform better or feel happier when they are in a charter school that allows them more freedom to experiment and be creative, or which provides them with the support they need to explore their individual talents.
There are some disadvantages to charter schools. Charter schools sometimes have to spend a lot of time trying to find funding. This may distract the staff from their educational roles. The difficulties of obtaining sufficient funding have also made some charter schools less accepting of children who have special educational requirements.
Charter school are held accountable by parents and by their sponsors, but they are more autonomous that normal public schools. This means that it is easier for a charter school to stay open, even if it is struggling or failing to meet its stated objectives.
Another problem with charter schools is that they do not allow their teachers the same rights as they would have when working in a normal public school. This can lead to poor working conditions and high turnover of staff.
It is difficult to generalize about charter schools in the US, since each school is run according to its own educational philosophy. The quality of a charter school depends upon the teachers who work in it and the program that it offers. All of the advantages and disadvantages of sending a child to a charter school are based upon the fact that charter schools are different from normal public schools. Whether the difference is a good or a bad thing depends largely upon the individual charter school.
Because charter schools vary as widely as traditional public schools, their academic achievement also varies widely. It is difficult, not to mention scientifically invalid, to make blanket comparisons of charter schools to traditional public schools. However, because charter schools promise to improve student achievement as a condition of relief from some of the rules and regulations that apply to traditional public schools, it is appropriate to evaluate their effectiveness.