What is a charter school?
What are public charter schools in New York?
- They are independent public schools of choice created by parents, educators and community leaders that operate under a
five-year license or charter. They are not private schools and do not use vouchers.
- Public charter schools are open to all students – tuition free – and are designed to improve learning, particularly for
students at risk of academic failure.
- They must meet all health, safety and civil rights standards but are freed from bureaucratic rules that inhibit
creativity and innovation. They use this flexibility to better meet the needs of students and parents.
- In return for this independence and flexibility, public charter schools must set measurable goals for achievement – and
attain them – or face the loss of their charter.
- They are funded by public tax dollars on a per pupil basis. Public charter schools must attract students to receive
funding.
What are the objectives of charter schools?
According to the Education Law, charter schools in New York are meant to:
- Improve student learning and achievement
- Increase learning opportunities for all students with special emphasis on expanded learning experiences for students who
are at risk of academic failure
- Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods
- Create new professional opportunities for teachers and school administrators
- Provide parents and students with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are available within
the public school system
- Provide schools with a method to change from rule-based to performance-based accountability systems<
How are students admitted to charter schools?
Any child eligible for admission to a traditional public school is eligible for admission to a public charter school. All charter schools must enroll students through a blind lottery. Like all public schools, charter schools cannot discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability or any other reason covered by anti-discrimination law.
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