What is a charter school?
A charter school is a privately managed public school. A charter school is funded with public monies and open to students in the district in which it is located.

Charter schools are designed by local citizens - including parents, teachers, and community leaders - to fulfill a specific and locally driven educational mission. The academic life, daily operations, and staff are managed by the citizens, educators, and board members responsible for the school itself.

What is the purpose of a charter schools?
Charter schools enable communities to provide new opportunities for students and innovative approaches to public school education. Charter schools must meet state and district standards for achievement, but can do so with unique educational programs that directly address the needs of their students.

By their nature, charter schools foster strong parental and community involvement. The emphasis on innovation also makes them potential models for change at traditional public schools.

Who can attend a charter school?
Eligibility is usually determined by residence within a locality. In Pennsylvania, students of the school district that grants the charter receive first preference. Students from outside of the district can attend tuition-free on a space-available basis. If there are more applicants than space available, students are selected by lottery. The Russell Byers Charter School is open to all children living in Philadelphia County.

Do charter schools charge tuition?
Like all public schools, charter schools are free.

Who grants the charter?
Charter schools apply to the designated chartering agency or agencies as outlined in a state’s charter school legislation. An application must describe the school’s educational mission and goals and its plans to achieve them. In Pennsylvania, application is made to the local school district granting the charter.

How do charter schools legally operate?
Charter schools are governed by the charter school laws of individual states. The Pennsylvania charter school legislation, Act 22, went into effect in 1997. It defines a charter school as an autonomous Local Education Agency (LEA).

Charters are required to meet all state laws and regulations protecting the health, safety, and civil rights of their students. These include background checks for all staff and insurance for the school and staff. The schools must also comply with state regulations for the required number of instructional days and hours and for administering standardized tests that assess achievement.

Charter schools must submit yearly reports to the district school board and undergo annual audits. If the school does not meet the goals it sets, the school board may not renew the charter.

How are charter schools funded?
In Pennsylvania, a charter public school receives funding from the school district that grants the charter. The school receives the amount the district would spend on each student, minus the average per-student expenditure for fixed administrative costs. In Philadelphia, the per pupil allotment is $5,800 for the academic year 2001-2002.

Who can start a charter school?
In most states, individual citizens, community members, community-based organizations and educators can form the founding group of a charter school. The school must be incorporated as a not-for-profit-entity by the time the charter is issued. In some states, for-profit companies may obtain charters.