
Charter School Basics
What are charter schools?
Charter schools are public schools—meaning they are free to parents as taxpayers—that operate with greater independence and autonomy than conventional district schools. Charter school leaders and teachers have more freedom to create an adaptive learning environment for your child. Charter schools must also maintain a set of performance standards in order to continue operating. In other words, if a charter school fails to meet their state mandated requirements for renewal, or fails to please parents and parents unenroll their children, the school shuts down. Charter schools close far more frequently than district schools, so the schools that continue to operate tend to outperform similarly situated district schools.
Charter schools must accept all applicants, except some performing arts or specialty schools, like math or engineering schools.
What are your charter school options in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has two types of charter schools—brick-and-mortar and cyber. Just like they sound, brick-and-mortar schools historically operate in a physical building and are authorized by the school district while cyber schools specialize in virtual learning from home and are authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
There are 14 cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania. With increasing parent concerns about district response to COVID-19, many cyber charter schools are at capacity full capacity and running on waitlists.
Why choose a charter school?
Charters can be more responsive to and flexible with parents than their district counterparts. They have to be. Unlike traditional government schools, if charter schools lose enrollment, they also lose funding and face shutdowns.
The innovation and specialization at charter schools is remarkable. Check out the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter School’s website to search for charter schools in your region and explore the various options available.
Also ask around. Friends and family are often the best resource for where the best schools are. Consider joining a local education group on Facebook where people share information.
The best fit school for your child depends entirely on the unique needs and gifts of your child. They may be best served at a private school, public charter school, public district school, or homeschool.