What is a Charter School?

Charter schools are part of the public school system. They are founded by parents, teachers, or others and they usually have a special focus (the arts, leadership, etc). Although public, charter schools are run independently, free from many procedural requirements of other public schools. They are required to have a system of accountability in place for yearly student progress. As with any placement decision, the unique needs of your child must be kept in mind. For Massachusetts residents, here is a good link for more information: Massachusetts Charter Schools