Charter schools are public, nonsectarian schools that operate pursuant to an agreement between the charter school and the sponsoring school board or other public chartering authority. Charter schools have the flexibility, authority, and responsibility to operate and innovate in exchange for greater accountability for results - student learning. The “charter” establishing each school is a legal agreement detailing the school’s mission, programs, methods of assessment, finances, and measures of success.

While free from many state regulations, students in charter schools take state tests required of other public schools students. Charter schools may not discriminate in admission and students are selected by lottery.

Currently, there are 119 charter schools in Pennsylvania enrolling almost 60,000 students. In December 2002, the Pennsylvania Department of Education released a comprehensive five-year study that shows that Pennsylvania’s Charter schools have demonstrated a solid record of academic performance, a high level of parent satisfaction, and that Pennsylvania has built a solid foundation for the future of charter schools.

Pennsylvania Coalition of Charter Schools
More on Charter Schools from the REACH Foundation

How Charter Schools Saves Money
Report: Financial Impact of Public Charter Schools
Policy Brief: The Dollars and Sense of School Choice