Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools of choice, chosen by teachers, parents, and students. In these schools, [Page 106]teachers and students have more influence on decisions that affect the teacher–learner interaction. Instead of being accountable for compliance to state or district rules and regulations, they are accountable for academic results outlined in their charter.

Charter schools became an integral part of the public school system in the United States when Minnesota enacted the first charter school legislation in 1991 and opened the first charter school in 1992. By 2008, 42 states and the District of Columbia had charter school legislation, and over 4,000 charter schools were in operation throughout the country, serving over one million students. States with the most charter schools are California, Arizona, Florida, Texas, ...