Ask your family, friends, and neighbors about charter schools, and you’ll receive an array of answers. Some perceptions will be positive, some negative. But it’s likely that several answers will be based on beliefs that simply aren’t true. So, let’s set the record straight and get the lay of the land.
The five most common circulating myths about charter schools are:
- They’re private schools
- They take away funds from public schools
- Charter schools don’t have qualified teachers
- They only accept high-achieving students
- They lack accountability
Are Charter Schools Private Schools?
The short answer is “No, they are public schools.”
Established by federal law, 20 U.S.C.§8061-8067, the Charter School Program (CSP) emerged to provide parents with alternative methods of learning from those found in traditional schools. They’re publicly funded but independent institutions of education.
Charter schools are funded by the same government financial resources as traditional schools, with the exception of local property taxes. To make up that difference, most charter schools receive extra funds through grants and donations.
Schools that are established by a charter are tuition-free and open to all children who want to attend. Additionally, they must accept students with disabilities and/or other special needs just like district schools. This includes adhering to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and civil rights laws.
In contrast, private schools charge for tuition, giving parents the responsibility of funding their children’s education. In 2024, the national average tuition per year to attend a private high school was $15,344. The cost of an elementary school tuition per year averaged $12,311 per student.
Furthermore, private schools have a rigorous enrollment process and they select the students they want to attend from their pool of applicants, whereas charter schools accept students on a first-come, first-served basis, regardless of family income or special needs. If the number of charter school applicants surpasses the number of seats available, students are placed on a waiting list. They are then selected fairly via a lottery.
Do Charter Schools Take Funds Away from Public Schools?
Charter schools are public schools. They use the same funds that traditional schools use, and they receive federal and state tax revenues on a “per pupil” basis, just as with district school students. When a student withdraws from a traditional school to attend a charter school, his or her portion of federal and state funds follows the student to the new school.
Today, 7.5% of the nation’s K-12 public school students attend a charter school. Some public district school parents fear that when students switch to a charter school, they’re draining the financial resources of traditional schools. Their concern is that maintenance, infrastructure, construction, and operations are being compromised when such funds leave their schools.
While it’s true that students’ portion of funds follows them to their new school, these funds cover the day-to-day costs such as teachers’ salaries, textbooks, technology, and supplies. But charter schools don’t receive the states’ dedicated facilities funding which is provided to traditional public schools. They don’t benefit from voter-approved bond measures for capital improvements. District schools may hold elections for tax levies and raise the funds they need for school improvements.
Charter Schools Have Less Qualified Teachers
Charter schools are operated independently and are not subject to some of the regulations to which traditional schools must comply. A look at the historical development of charter schools puts this issue in perspective.
The original idea of a charter school began with a professor of education who taught at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The reason he began chartered education was to give teachers an opportunity to use new teaching methods for certain subjects. It was meant to be
experimental. This experiment evolved until 1991 when Minnesota was the first state to grant a charter for a whole school. However, the idea of it being experimental stuck, and the myth that charter school teachers were somehow less qualified emerged simply from trying something new.
The truth is most charter school teachers hold bachelor’s degrees, and many have earned advanced degrees. In addition, chartered institutions utilize performance-based systems to retain successful teachers who provide high-quality teaching for their students.
Heavily engaged activities within the walls of charter schools, such as professional development meetings, conferences, and events; all promote teachers’ continued education and maintain high teaching standards.
Do Only High-Achieving Students Attend Charter Schools?
The quality of education provided by most charter schools is exceptional. Students who perform poorly in district schools frequently find themselves excelling in charter schools. The very reason these schools were formed was to give students an alternative pedagogy under which most excel. Because of their tremendous success, it could seem to people (not familiar with charter schools) that they are cherry-picking the best students to attend.
Charter schools do not — and by law cannot — selectively choose the students who apply to attend. They enroll students from all educational and financial backgrounds, all races, religions, and cultural backgrounds. “There is no indication that charters are ‘skimming the cream’ of students from the public schools.”
Are Charter Schools Held Accountable for Their Performance?
Yes, charter schools are held accountable by their state’s board of education. They must teach the core subjects and student performance is tested regularly. State legislations require that charter school students pass the same standardized tests as those students in traditional schools.
In addition, authorizing bodies review charter schools’ performance to ensure standards are being met. If they’re not, the schools can be closed. These authorizing bodies, often called the charter school boards of education, work in collaboration with their state boards to ensure that the quality of education meets states’ standards.
When metrics of performance standards are taken, both traditional and charter schools must publish the results. Hence, the state’s government, school leaders, staff, parents, and the community can view how well their schools are performing by going to the educational page of their state government’s website.
Wrapping it Up
Friends, family, and members of your community no doubt mean well when they tell you what they’ve heard about charter schools. However, many myths persist. Hopefully, you now know the truth about these top five most common myths.
If you’re one of 45% of our nation’s parents who are considering sending their children to a new school, explore the charter schools in your area. You’ll find several outstanding schools that are free for your children to attend. For example, the Leman Academy of Excellence has schools located in both Arizona and Colorado. With a stellar approach in Classical Education, Leman’s teaching method is aligned exceptionally well with the natural learning process of children.
See what charter schools are located in your area, and discover the possibilities they hold for your child’s academic success.