What Are the Benefits of Charter Schools?

Are you looking for a new school for your child? Are you wondering about the benefits of charter schools?

Between 2000 and 2017, the number of students enrolled in charter schools increased from 1% to 6% of public school students. This significant increase demonstrates their popularity among parents and students, as well as a possible continual trend.

What are charter schools, and what difference can you expect from sending your child to one of the best charter schools in your area?

Let’s take a look.

What is a Charter School?

Charter schools are public schools that are operated independently and designed to meet individual student needs. The charter school authorizer is usually an independent organization such as a university or nonprofit.

Charter schools are located in both urban and suburban areas. They may have specialties such as the arts, college prep, a STEM-based curriculum.

Charter schools are tuition-free. The contract, or “charter,” spells out a school’s goals, accountability requirements, and fiscal guidance.

Most charter schools are on single campuses, but some are run by networks similar to school districts. Charter schools receive money from state and local governments, as well as from philanthropy. This has lead to an increase in the number of charter schools in lower-income and urban areas.

Charter schools may be considered more publically owned or privately owned depending upon the school itself and the states they’re located in. Generally, states view them as public schools where students need to take all assessments required by those students in traditional public schools.

What Are the Benefits of Charter Schools?

One of the biggest advantages of charter schools is that it gives parents a choice to send their child somewhere other than traditional public schools. And they won’t have to pay the tuition required at expensive private schools.

Charter schools, such as this innovative K-12 public charter school, can also allow you to place your child in a school tailored to their unique academic needs. For example, you may want your child to have a more arts-based curriculum. Or maybe you want your child to concentrate on math and science.

Some charter schools may even allow your child to choose a major in preparation for college and a career.

Charter schools also enjoy an increase in accountability, or they would risk losing their charter. They are therefore committed to providing a rigorous curriculum where your child could excel. If a particular charter school is not run effectively, parents will choose not to send their children there.

If you’re concerned about your child getting lost in the shuffle at public schools, charter schools provide an excellent alternative. They offer smaller classes, which allows for more individualized attention and customized support.

Charter schools are also known for promoting diversity among their populations. They encourage innovative teaching practices. And they get rewarded for out-of-the-box thinking that allows every student to perform at their best.

How Do I Choose the Right Charter School For My Child?

Tours and interviews are a great way to gauge whether or not a particular charter school is right for your child. You can sit in on classes and get a feel for what class size is like. Do students seem to get involved in hands-on, engaging activities across the board?

Find out about the curriculum in a prospective charter school, and think about whether or not it would be right for your child. Are there lots of arts activities for a more creative student? Are there technical challenges for those who are more math-oriented?

You’ll also want to make sure you choose a school with the right level of challenge for your child. If the curriculum isn’t challenging enough, your child will become bored. If it’s too rigorous, they may become overwhelmed and discouraged.

Online reviews and personal recommendations are another great way to make sure you’re making a good decision. Read what other parents are saying about the school’s effectiveness in reaching their children. If many people are delivering high praise, you can be more confident that your child will succeed there.

You’ll also want to think about the school’s location and whether or not transportation is available. A great school for your child located an hour away, for example, may not be feasible. Other schools, however, may offer a bus to your neighborhood that makes them a more appealing option.

How Do I Get My Child Into a Charter School?

If you’re interested in a particular charter school, you can usually download an application on the school’s website. These are usually due in the spring of the previous year. Students will get accepted based on the number of seats available.

If too many students apply for spots in a particular charter school, they will be selected based upon a lottery. Those who aren’t chosen for the lottery could get placed on a waiting list and contacted when spots become available.

State rules and regulations oversee the lottery process. In some charter schools, preference is given to students who are most at risk and those from low-income families.

The Charter School Advantage

The increase in the number of students attending charter schools in the US is no accident. The benefits of charter schools include their academic rigor, specialized curriculums, and creative approaches. If you think your child would flourish in a charter school, it pays to look into options in your area.

Don’t stop getting smart about your child’s education now. For more great advice, read our blog today.