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Published 9/1/2026
What Is a Charter School?
A clear explanation of how charter schools work, how they're funded, and how they differ from traditional public schools.
What Is a Charter School?
A charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently of the traditional public school system under a "charter" — a performance contract with an authorizing agency.
Key facts:
- Charter schools are free and public.
- They cannot charge tuition.
- They cannot teach religion.
- They are open to all students, using a lottery when oversubscribed.
Charter schools have more flexibility in curriculum, schedule and staffing, but are held accountable for academic and financial performance.
This article is general information and not legal advice.