What Are Charter Schools?
WHAT ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS?
- Charter schools are public schools of choice that serve all students;
- Charter schools have open enrollment, are tuition-free, and facilitate public lotteries for admission;
- Charter schools are created and managed by local educators, parents, and community leaders;
- They operate independently from the traditional district governance structure, but are held accountable through local and state oversight of operations and academic outcomes;
- Charter schools are authorized for five years, at which time they are renewed for continued operation or shut down;
- California approved the Charter Schools Act in 1992, the second state in the nation behind Minnesota;
- For over 20 years, California's charter schools have been reinventing public education and are viewed as a common sense option for students and families.
BY THE NUMBERS (Placer County)
- California has the highest number of charter schools of any state in the country with 1,184 schools operating throughout the state;
- Approximately 550,000 students are enrolled in California public charter schools, representing 9% of the 6.2 million students attending public schools in California;
- An estimated 158,000 students are on waiting lists to attend charter schools in California;
- Placer County has 22 charter schools. Total student enrollment in Placer County in 2014-15 was 70,440. 9,506 of these students were enrolled in charter schools;
- Placer County has a unique mix of independent and dependent charter schools.