Charter Schools
Charter schools are publicly-funded schools that are run independently of the school district. Charter schools are run by a not-for-profit organization governed by a board of directors comprised of parents, educators and business leaders in the community. Charter schools operate with more autonomy than district-run schools in exchange for greater accountability. Unlike a public school, a charter school that has persistently low student achievement is closed.
Like public schools, charter schools are free for students and must enroll any student who applies as long as the school has space. If demand exceeds available space, charter schools must conduct a lottery to determine student enrollment. Students in charter schools must take the same assessments as students in district-run public schools and schools are graded, just like public schools, on a scale of A – F.
In Louisiana, 104 charter schools are educating nearly 58,000 students. An additional 11 charter schools will open in the 2012-2013 school year. From 2011 to 2012, charter schools outpaced district schools in raising student achievement, gaining an average of 6.14 points compared to 4.7 points for district-run schools.
Charter schools can be converted from existing schools or be start-up schools established by businesses, parent groups, education groups and others. Charter schools are authorized by a local school district or the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for five years. Charter schools enter a contract with the authorizing body and must meet the terms of the contract, including financial sustainability and student achievement goals, to continue to operate. If a charter school does not meet its contractual obligations, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education may not review the contract at the end of five years or may rescind a contract in the fourth year.
For more resources, please visit our Charter Schools Library.
Ongoing Initiatives: