About Charters

What is a charter public school?

Charter public schools were created by the Education Reform Act of 1993 to provide educational choice for parents, expand educational opportunity for their children, and promote change in their districts. In exchange for specific freedoms (in organizational structure, mission, and academic program), charter public schools are held to high levels of accountability. They must successfully manage school finances and operations, and they must demonstrate student achievement; if they don't, the schools can be closed.

Are charter public schools private schools?

No. They are public schools. Charters are founded by parents and community leaders who believe there are educational needs that are not being met by district schools. They operate independent of local school districts and local government and are overseen by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).

There are different types of charter public schools: Commonwealth Charter Schools and Horace Mann Charter Schools. Both operate independent of the local school system, but a Horace Mann Charter School must have the approval of the local school committee and teachers' union, and its yearly budget request must be approved by the local school committee as well. A new type of Horace Mann Charter, created by the Legislature in 2009, does not require union support. These are referred to as "in-district" charters and are limited to 14 statewide. Every charter public school is managed by a public board of trustees.

There are 72 charter public schools operating in Massachusetts (as of Sept. 2011) - 62 Commonwealth charters, eight Horace Mann charters, and two "in-district" charters (both in Boston). In September 2012, seven new Commonwealth charters are scheduled to open.

Who can attend a charter public school?

Charter public schools are public schools open to everyone, free of charge. They cannot - and do not - select their students. If there are more students than available seats, they hold public lotteries to determine who will attend.

Since the first school opened in 1995, enrollment has steadily risen and demand has remained strong. More than 27,000 children are enrolled in Commonwealth charters with nearly 35,500 on wait lists. More than 3,800 students are enrolled in Horace Mann charters with more than 2,000 on wait lists. That's a little more than 2% of statewide enrollment.

Do charter public schools serve “all” students?

Yes. Although enrollment is ultimately determined by a random lottery, charter public schools are open to all students. Since charters are located mostly in urban areas, their enrollment comes mostly from "underserved" populations. Statewide, 50 percent of students enrolled in charter public schools are students of color, compared to 23 percent statewide; 46 percent of students in charter public schools are enrolled in the free/reduced lunch program compared with 31 percent statewide. Compared to host districts, charters serve a far higher percentage of African American and Hispanic children, an equivalent percentage of low-income students, and lower percentages of special needs students and children who are designated "Limited English Proficient" (LEP). Designating children as "special needs" or LEP depends on a subjective analysis by school administrators. Charter public schools avoid over-labeling these children and strive to educate them in regular classrooms. In Boston, our demographics mirror the city's Pilot Schools.

How are charter public schools funded?

Charters are funded by allocating a portion of education spending from districts based on how much money districts spent on each student. Since districts no longer educate these students, they no longer receive the funding. However, districts that host charters receive additional aid from the state. Every time there is an increase in the amount of money that is allocated to charters - whether it be because a new charter opens or because there is an increase in district spending - those dollars are reimbursed by the state for six years at a rate of 100% the first year and 25% for the next five years. That means districts get more than double their money back over that period, giving them time to adjust their budgets for the loss of enrollment.

Who oversees charter public schools?

Since charter public schools are independent of the local school district, they are overseen by the state. Charter public schools first go through a rigorous application process; only strong, viable applications are approved. The schools are evaluated every year by the state Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE). Charters must be renewed every five years. If the schools do not live up to the high standards established by the state, they can be closed. Several have. Charter finances are reviewed by independent auditors and are also subject to additional audits by the State Auditor. Massachusetts' application process and oversight practices have been rated the toughest in the nation.

Are charter public schools fulfilling their mission?

For the past 15 years, charter public schools have proven that children from urban communities can achieve at the same level as children from the affluent suburbs. Charters are moving disadvantaged children from the back of the pack to the front of the pack, arming them with the tools they will need to succeed in college and the work force.

Two studies by prominent, independent researchers found that charter public schools are closing the achievement gap between poor minority students and affluent white students.

• A study by Harvard and MIT researchers for The Boston Foundation (2008) showed that Boston charters erased half the achievement gap in a single year. Students who entered charters in the fourth grade improved their test scores from Boston's average to Brookline's average by the eighth grade. Brookline is one of the state's top districts.
• In Boston, where there is the largest concentration of charters, the five highest performing public high schools are all charters and seven of the eight highest performing public middle schools are charters (based on 2010 MCAS scores comparing open admission public schools).
• The state DESE (2006) found that widest gap in MCAS scores between charters and districts was among African American, Hispanic, and low-income students.

Do charter public schools collaborate with district schools?

Yes. Dozens of collaborative programs are taking place across the state between charter and district schools and their teachers and administrators. For a partial list of programs, go to www.masscharterschools.org/schools/cdcollaborate.html

In 2011, Boston charter public schools and the Boston Public Schools agreed to create a new "Compact" that would pave the way for a new era of cooperation and collaboration between charter public and district public schools for the benefit of all Boston schoolchildren.

The Compact broadens choice for parents, improves collaboration between charter and district schools and facilitates the sharing of innovative practices. The Compact also benefits charter and district teachers, expanding opportunities for sharing best practices, fostering collaborative relationships to explore new models of urban education, and expanding opportunities for shared teacher professional development.

Across the state charters and districts are engaging in many collaborative efforts to improve public education. The Charter School Office of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has created a searchable database of best practices created by charter public schools and shared with district schools. Visit http://www.doe.mass.edu/charter/bestpractices/ to view available best practice models.