What is a Charter School?

Charter schools are free, public schools of choice, which are open to all students. There are no admission criteria; any student who is grade-level eligible can enroll through a non-discriminatory admissions lottery. Charter schools are offered certain freedoms—namely freedom over the budget, curriculum and personnel—in exchange for increased academic accountability. Charter schools operate under five-year performance contracts, and are held to the same New York State Regents’ performance standards established for all public schools. A not-for-profit Board of Trustees governs charter schools.

How are Charter Schools Different from NYC Public Schools?

Charter schools can be started by educators, parents, community leaders and not-for profit organizations. Because they are held to very high standards and are responsible for educating public school students, charter schools are approved only after a rigorous review process. Once schools open, they are governed by a not-for-profit board of trustees. They are exempt from many state and local regulations regarding curriculum development, personnel hiring and financial management, but must succeed in hitting established targets for their academic programs.

How Commonplace are Charter Schools?

The first state charter school law was passed by Minnesota in 1991. Since then, charter schools have expanded rapidly throughout the United States; currently, there are over one million students enrolled in more than 3,500 schools in 40 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Last year there were 60 charter schools in NYC, serving over 18,000 students. With an additional 18 charter schools opening up in the 2008-09 school year, there are almost 80 charter schools currently in operation in NYC.

How are Charter Schools Funded?

Charter schools receive a per-pupil allocation from the state. This per-pupil allocation varies from year to year, and in general, is equivalent to 80% of the per-pupil allocation of a regular public school, exclusive of facilities costs. In order to make up for this funding discrepancy, charter schools must privately fundraise.

Have Charter Schools Been Successful in NYC?

Charter schools in New York City have realized enormous success. Two charter schools—Williamsburg Collegiate in Brooklyn and KIPP Infinity in Harlem—were recently ranked number one and number two among all of New York City’s 1,200 public schools on the New York City Department of Education Progress Reports. In addition, this past June, New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein announced test scores that demonstrate that New York City public school students who attend charter schools outperform their peers at other public schools in districts with charter schools across the city.

What are the Benefits of Enrolling My Child in a Charter School?

Charter schools provide an innovative alternative to traditional NYC public schools. With their high degree of autonomy, aggressive performance goals and strict accountability, charter schools:

• Enable teachers to be more creative and innovative in their teaching methods and subject matter.
• Provide an added education resource in areas underserved by public schools.
• Tend to be smaller in classroom size and overall student body for more personalized attention.
• Allow parents to choose a school based on what they think will work best for their children.
• Are held accountable for meeting student performance goals.