media@lemanacademy.org

As the nation’s top school-choice state, Arizona is home to over 560 charter schools. Each school has its own goals, curriculum, and methodology for educating 230,000+ students. With this type of diversification, how can charter schools network to support each other, receive training and share resources? Enter the Arizona Charter School Association (AZCSA).  

In 1994 Arizona became the 11th state in the U.S. to pass a charter school law. This year, 2024, is commemorating its start with a “30 Years Strong” slogan splashed all over charter school websites to celebrate.  

In the year after passing the charter school law, school leaders foresaw the need for an organization to sustain and support the many charter schools that began springing up all over the state. In fact, in 1995 alone, Arizona saw 67 new charter schools emerge on the educational landscape. Thus began the formation of the Arizona Charter School Association.  

What is the Arizona Charter School Association?  

The Arizona Charter School Association (AZCSA) is a nonprofit, (503(c)(3)) organization located in Phoenix.  

The AZCSA has a vision: “All Arizona students have access to a high-quality public charter school”. A diverse membership of policy decision-makers, participants from the community,  educators, and school leaders make up its members, with a focus on policy transparency throughout all facets of the organization.  

Currently headed by President and CEO Jake Logan, the Association’s board of directors includes a chairman, vice-chairman, district administrator, chief operating officer, chief academic officer, and treasurer. Meetings are held on a monthly basis.  

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits support the Association, which reported a 2023 revenue of $1.8 million and $1.5 million in expenses. 

What Does the Association Do?  

To uphold autonomy, equity, and quality for Arizona charter schools, AZCSA provides:  

• Professional development programs for teachers and leaders to support student learning objectives  
• Operational assistance to help schools be more cost-efficient in their day-to-day operations 
• Resources for charter school boards to assist with the stewardship of funds and trusts  
• Research to support school quality and tools for educators  
• Events for charter schools to network, collaborate, and create a legislative impact on the charter school movement  

What Events are Hosted by the Association? 

Three main events are held annually and include the Fall Conference, Charters at the Capitol,  and the Charter Compliance Summit. Although these events are only open to AZCSA members, individual schools hold annual events for parents who would like local school information.  

Among the many sessions held at the 2024 Fall Conference in Phoenix were:  

• Taking the Science of Reading Home  
• Crafting Effective Pay Structures to Retain Top Teaching Talent  
• Shedding Light on AI Implementation  

Charters at the Capitol is held in March. This is a gathering of school leaders, teachers, parents, and students who meet with their state’s legislators to encourage recognition and provision of Arizona’s charter schools within its legislature.  

The Arizona Charter Compliance Summit meets in the spring of each year to discuss strategy for board composition, support for school leaders, and data-driven governance practices.  

Where Can Parents Find More Information?

Information about the Arizona Charter School Association can be found online at https:// www.azcharters.org. On this website you can find:  

• A search tool to compare district as well as charter schools across the state including school type, enrollment information, grade levels served, and the A-F letter grade rating given to each school by the Arizona Department of Education.  
• How to advocate for charter schools at the state government level  
• Information about state funding for charter schools in Arizona.  

As the state that ranks fourth in the nation with the most charter schools, (California, Texas, and  Florida are home to more), services provided by the Arizona Charter School Association are the glue that connects, sustains, and uplifts the schools. In this way, it’s the bedrock that enriches the lives of thousands of Arizona’s students.

Introduction: Back to the Future with Online Schooling

After meeting with her teachers and the school principal, Laura Bennet’s parents decided she should receive the rest of her education at home. The school district would provide a tutor to collect her assignments from school and meet with her three times a week to help her keep up with her work.

Laura suffered frequent, intermittent migraine headaches that caused her to miss more than half of her school days. Her parents owned a restaurant and worked there every day but Sunday, so homeschooling was out of the question.

The hired tutor scheduled meetings with Laura’s teachers to collect and turn in her assignments, carried books and other materials she needed back and forth from school, and met with her three times a week at her home.

This was twenty years ago.

Flash forward: Today online schooling is available to almost any student in Arizona. Any student with a desktop or laptop computer, audio and camera functions, and a reliable internet connection can learn online.

The online school option is a life-saver for students with physical disabilities, for those who need a flexible schedule, for students who move around a lot, or for those who need to catch up on school credits. There are no restrictions on students who wish to receive their schooling online.

When considering the online school option, let’s consider three points:

1. How This Option Emerged
2. What Parents Need to Know
3. What Arizona Law Says

How Did this Online School Option Come About?

The fast pace of technology might have led us to schooling online eventually, but as necessity is the mother of invention, online schooling boomed when Covid broke out in 2020. With schools closed and lockdowns keeping us indoors, state officials worked hard to make virtual schooling a choice for parents and their children.

By the time the 2020-2021 school year rolled around, there were 70 fully virtual online schools, with 1.6% of total state students attending in Arizona.

In November of 2022, the Arizona State Department of Education created the Arizona Online Instruction Program (AOI) to allow schools to provide online schooling, with courses to be approved by the Arizona State Board of Education for district schools, and the Arizona State Board of Charter Schools for charter schools.

What do Parents Need to Know?

The State of Arizona does not have a state online school, but there are 119 district schools and 22 charter schools that are all authorized to provide online education. Their instruction is available either as full-time or as supplemental learning.

Your children can choose to engage in blended learning or hybrid learning. Blended learning is online instruction that is supplemental to learning in a live class with an in-person teacher, whereas online hybrid learning is independent of the instruction in class.

If your children school online full-time, they will have the same resources available to them as in-person students, including:

• Teachers/instructors/coaches
• Administrator professionals
• Counselors
• Testing managers
• A registrar
• Customer service representatives
• Support staff

Online assisted learning systems, virtual classrooms, meet-ups for collaboration, email, virtual tutoring, and online help desk are also included in the online option. 

What does Arizona Law Say About Online School?

Arizona’s statutes specifically address the implementation of online schooling for school districts and charter schools. According to the Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS):

§15-701.01H This section established AOI and the reception of course credits by district or charter school online programs; however, AOI determines whether the credits are counted as core credits or electives.

§15-801 The Arizona State Board of Education or the Arizona State Board of Charter Schools develops standards for online schoolwork according to these criteria:

• The depth and breadth of the curriculum
• Methods addressing students with unique needs and learning styles
• Availability of a private network to protect students from predatory elements on the internet
• School notifications to parents and guardians of state testing requirements
• Maintenance of a daily log of student attendance

Conclusion

If you wish your children to pursue an education online, they will receive almost the exact experience that in-class students enjoy. The only thing missing is live people with whom to interact. However, most virtual schooling provides collaboration opportunities to work together on projects, class discussions, and meetings with teachers.

For parents like Laura’s who needed something special for their child, and for those with other exceptional circumstances, a viable online school option is available for all students in Arizona.

It grows every year. Each year for three decades, Arizona has grown as a national leader in charter school choice by parents. Why are parents surging the enrollment lines for their children to attend a charter school instead of their local district school? 

While a variety of factors are involved in the answer to this question, let’s take a look at the four  main reasons Arizona parents are choosing charter schools over public district schools: 

• Curriculum Distinction 
• Elevated School Performance 
• Equitable and Free Admissions 
• Accessible Funding 

Curriculum Distinction

In terms of academic curricula, both public schools and charter schools have branches that begin growing from the same tree trunk. Both types of schools have to adhere to the standards set by the Arizona Board of Education, and all charter schools must adhere to standards given by the  Arizona State Board for Charter Schools. But the similarities end there as those branches offshoot into newer, more distinct ones. 

Most charter schools follow an advanced or accelerated curriculum. With their smaller student-to-teacher ratios, students receive greater attention. Thus, engagement with their studies deepens.  They develop confidence and intrinsic motivation, which ultimately leads to a mastery of academic knowledge and skills. 

Charter schools offer a wide range of courses that align with their missions and goals. For example, Arizona is an agricultural state and is home to several charter schools focusing on agricultural studies. The Arizona School for the Arts emphasizes art education. Some curricula follow a particular teaching method such as the Montessori method or classical education. Other charter schools are focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)  studies. 

Public schools may have more resources for curriculum development, but they’re not as flexible and innovative as Arizona’s charter schools. 

Elevated School Performance

Arizona is home to 580 charter schools, serving approximately 231,703 students. This is 21% of public enrollment and 25% percent of the state’s public elementary schools. (Arizona Charter  Schools Association) The state is proud to have the highest-ranked charter schools in the country.  According to U.S. News & World Report’s list of best charter schools in 2022, 8 of Arizona’s charter schools ranked in the nation’s top 10. 

Arizona’s charter schools generate 35% higher academic achievement than local school districts.  (Goldwater Institute) Furthermore, this achievement applies to all students regardless of race,  gender, ethnicity, or family income. 

With such a tremendous demonstration of academic growth, it’s no wonder parents are scrambling to enroll their children in Arizona’s charter schools. 

Equitable and Free Admissions  

No matter where you live in Arizona, your children have access to a public charter school. Entry is free because charter schools are supported by many of the same financial foundations as district schools. 

All of Arizona’s children who apply to charter schools are enrolled regardless of race, ethnicity,  gender, or income status. There aren’t any academic requirements or admissions tests. Nor is entry limited by language proficiency or athletic ability. Charter schools are open to all students.

Accessible Funding

Charter schools in the United States receive the same government funding as traditional schools,  with the exception of local property taxes. Making up the difference, Arizona’s legislature provides charter school students with up to $2,000 per pupil more than is given to district school students. 

Charter schools don’t charge tuition. Additionally, they receive extra funding for Special Education and English language learner needs. 

With numerous business donations and grants picking up the financial disparity, Arizona’s charter schools often exceed traditional schools in the availability of funds. 

Final Thoughts

In summary, while Arizona’s public district schools provide all the resources needed for a traditional education, many parents are choosing to enroll their children in charter schools. They’re drawn by challenging curricula and academic excellence, with an admission that is free of cost. 

The state of Arizona, as a national leader in charter school success, offers a powerful alternative to traditional district schools.

With so many school options in Arizona, how do you decide which one is best for your children?  They can attend a public school, a charter school, or a private school, or you can homeschool them.  You want to make the choice that best fits your values and goals. Suppose your choices were narrowed down to either a private school or a charter school. What would be the best option to choose for your child’s journey to success? 

You might have some questions such as: 

1. What is taught in each of these two types of schools? 
2. Is it difficult to get into private or charter schools? 
3. How do private and charter schools perform? 
4. Can I afford to send my child to these schools? 

How Does School Curricula Differ?

By law, all schools in Arizona must teach the basics; reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science. Aside from the basics, private schools are completely free to develop their own curricula, with 35% of private schools offering studies that go beyond the normal school curriculum such as interdisciplinary studies. 

In addition, 73% percent of Arizona’s private schools belong to either the Association of  Christian Schools International (ACSI), or the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA).  Thus, many of Arizona’s private schools include the teaching of religious principles in their curricula. 

Private preparatory academies rigorously equip college-bound students for higher learning. With coursework designed according to their own sets of goals, Arizona’s private schools pave the way toward post-high school success. 

Charter schools, with the exception of religious associations, contain many of the same elements as private schools. One major difference, though, is they set the bar of achievement standards higher than any other school setting. BASIS charter schools require high school students to take advanced placement (AP) courses and AP exams.

Parents will discover a variety of educational approaches in charter schools since they often employ non-traditional teaching methods; e.g., classical education, Montessori education,  language immersion, and STEM courses, to name a few. 

How Difficult Are Admissions to These Schools?

Private schools have a hefty admissions process. They admit students based on selective criteria such as religious affiliation, academic achievement, ethnicity, and gender. Students undergo multiple interviews, tests, and the writing of essays to be admitted. 

Charter schools in Arizona, however, have zero admissions requirements, aside from being Arizona residents. There are no tests, nor are there any requirements related to demographics; e.g., race, religion, gender, or income level.  All students who apply are accepted. The only limitation is the number of seats available; if more students apply than there are seats, there will be a waiting list established through a double-blind lottery system. 

How Does School Performance Compare?  

The state of Arizona has an average graduation from high school rate of 77%. From private schools, the rate is 62%, and from charter schools it’s 84.5%. BASIS charter schools report a whopping graduation rate of 98%.

In private schools, teachers do not need to be state-certified. They aren’t required to have a degree in education, although most do have a college degree. Likewise, teachers in charter schools are often degreed, but not necessarily in education. Hiring practices are based on each school’s preferences. 

Are Charter Schools Funded Differently than Private Schools?

Saving the most conspicuous comparison for last, private and charter schools are funded in vastly different manners. Parents are responsible for supporting a private school education. In 2024, private elementary school tuition per year averaged $10,196 per student. High school tuition averaged $14,321 per student. Tax-credit scholarships, school vouchers, and donations made by businesses and community organizations are available for assistance.

Charter schools don’t charge tuition. Federal and state governments supply funding for them just as they do for traditional schools. The only exception is charter schools don’t receive money from local property taxes as district schools do. 

When charter schools began in Arizona in 1994, Arizona’s system for funding schools was not overhauled to include them. To make up the difference for lack of property taxes, which supplies  40% – 45% of school funds, Arizona’s legislature gives charter school students up to $2,000 per student in “equalization dollars”. 

In addition, Arizona can apply for grants at the federal and state levels. Private grant foundations also supply money to charter schools; e.g., the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the  Walton Family Foundation. 

Private School vs. Charter School Summary

Have you decided whether to send your children to a charter school or a private school? 

Private Schools: 

• Parents pay tuition 
• Have rigorous entrance requirements 
• Have a 62% graduation rate 
• 73% affiliate with a religious association 
• Offer college preparatory programs 

Charter Schools: 

• Tuition is paid for by federal and state money 
• Have no admissions criteria 
• Have an 84.5% graduation rate 
• Have no religious or association affiliation 
• Have higher academic standards than other schools 

What path will you choose for your children? 

The past 30 years have witnessed significant changes in the way we educate our kids. Many of today’s parents are not familiar with the way charter schools work because these schools weren’t a viable option when they were children. It’s understandable that parents have questions. Frequently voiced questions are: How are they funded? Who pays for a charter school education?

Let’s take a look at how this is done. We’ll zoom in on three specific questions:

1. Do charter schools charge tuition?
2. Does the dollar follow the student from school to school?
3. How much money is spent per student in charter schools?

Charter School Funding

Beginning in 1994, the Legislature of Arizona established charter schools to offer parents and students an alternate approach to education than traditional public schools. Charter schools emerged to provide students with diverse insights, to match distinct learning styles, and to offer more in-depth courses of study than those already existing in district schools. Examples include Montessori schools, classical education schools, and STEM-based learning.

Because charter schools and district schools both receive their funding from federal and state governments, charter schools do not charge tuition, and are free of cost for students to attend.

Charter schools are subject to the governing policies of the Arizona Department of Education. They are defined as public schools under Arizona law (A.R.S. §15-101(3)). As with district schools, they are legal entities with legal responsibilities, independent of their operators.

Some differences in school funding do exist, however. At the local level, charter schools miss out on the 16.2% local property taxes that district schools receive. Additionally, they’re denied the opportunity to procure operating and building funds via local elections. To offset this disparity, Arizona legislature provides charter schools up to $2,000 more per pupil in “equalization dollars”.

In both types of schools, the amount of government funds they receive is dependent upon the number of students enrolled, with the greatest portion of finances coming from the state. Our federal government also provides money for individuals with disabilities, language learning for students from non-English speaking homes, and funding for families with low incomes such as the free lunch program.

Further financial assistance is provided by:

• Charter Additional Assistance (CAA), for capital needs and supplies.
• The Arizona Community Foundation for after-school activities, literacy programs, and community engagement.
• The Walton Family Foundation grants for school startups and facilities.
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for student achievement programs.
• Local businesses, community organizations, and corporate sponsorships.

Does the Dollar Follow the Student?

Traditional district schools and charter schools receive government funds based on the number of students enrolled in their schools. Thus, when students move out of district schools and into charter schools, the money that supports them follows them.

Parents have expressed concern that the move to charter schools causes district schools to lose money. However, it’s worth remembering that traditional schools may raise the money they receive from local voting, whereas charter schools may not. With votes, school districts can raise money for construction and operational expenditures, but charter schools cannot.

In 2023, on average, charter schools received $0.81 cents on every dollar that a district school received from public funding. While the amount of money received by each school isn’t equal, the model does show us that “the dollar follows the student”. In this way, we can be assured that our children are receiving the funds they need for a quality education.

Amount of Money Spent per Student in Charter Schools

We’ve seen how both charter and district schools are funded by our government based on the enrollment in each school. Now let’s take a look at school spending comparisons.

Expenditures made, per pupil, in the school year 2021-2022 by Arizona’s unified school districts and charter schools are shown below:

	Unified Districts	Charter Schools
Classroom instruction:	$5,962	$4,649
Classroom supplies:	$301	$389
*Administration:	$1,076	$2,050
Student Support Services:	$980	$570
Other Services:	$2,742	$1,837
**Total Expenditures:	$11,062	$9,495

*Total administrative expenditures for unified districts is 22.7% more than for charter schools. However, the ADM (average daily member) of charter school students is only 40% of unified schools. Thus, the breakdown of administrative expenditures per student is more for charter schools. (Details can be found on page 47 of the Arizona Department of Education Annual Report). Administrative expenditures include funds for the district office, superintendents, CFO, principals, clerical staff, directors of departments, counseling, and record maintenance.

**Despite having less funding per student, Arizona’s charter schools surpassingly outperform the state’s average graduation rate: 77% is the state average, while 84.5% is the average for charter schools.

A Brighter Future

Despite the similarities and differences between funding methods for charter and district school education, the bottom line is you do not have to pay tuition for your children’s education in Arizona’s K-12 charter schools.

As parents today, you can enjoy the luxury of choosing the type of school that best suits your scholar’s needs and aptitudes. In this way, our students have the opportunity for optimal learning, which in turn, grants us all with a well-educated future society.