It’s such a bittersweet moment. Your child is slowly but surely growing older, and it’s time to send your little guy or gal to school. Obviously, you want the best for your child and want him or her to receive the highest quality education they could.
So as you’ve done research on where to send your student, you’ve no doubt heard about charter schools. You may be wondering what is a charter school, but this article has got you covered. In it, we’ll explain what charter schools are, how they’re funded, how they’re different from traditional public schools, and whether they’re the right choice for your child.
Table of Contents
What is a Charter School?
The two primary defining traits of a charter school is that they are publicly funded institutions, but operated by an independent group. This is different from traditional public schools, which are overseen by a governing school district’s board. Just like with public schools, however, the government requires public schools to take any student who wants to enroll.
Thus, if you’ve decided that a charter school is the right option for your child, he or she will have a guaranteed spot. In addition,
How are Charter Schools Funded?
As we discussed above, charter schools are funded primarily by tax dollars. However, depending on what kind of organization runs the school, the school may also receive funding from outside organizations.
Some charter schools are run by for-profit organizations, while others are run by non-profits. Depending on how the organization decides to run the school’s finances, it may take funding from outside sources.
The Advantages of a Charter School
The principal advantage of a charter school over a traditional public school lies in its management. Because the groups that direct the school are independent, they have greater freedom. Freedom not only with curriculum and learning material, but also with the structure of school hours, athletics, and such.
This enables the charter school to try the cutting edge of educational theory and technology far easier than a traditional public school could. If your child would thrive in that kind of dynamic, ever-changing environment, then a charter school would be a good option.
Charter schools are particularly popular in inner-city and urban areas. The flexible nature of charter schools allow it to try new things in areas where traditional school systems haven’t cut it.
How to Get Started with a Charter School
The first step to getting your child enrolled in a charter school is doing research. Use the Internet to find charter schools located in your area, and read online reviews. If you can, find parents who have sent their children to the school to get their feedback.
Once you’ve located the right charter school to send your child, just submit an application within the enrollment period and you’ll hear back soon.
A Unique Education
Now that we’ve answered the question “What is a charter school” for you, it’s time for you to make a decision. A charter school could provide your child with a unique opportunity to learn in an untraditional, fast-paced, dynamic environment. If you’ve found the right charter school for your child, then there’s no reason to let him or her miss out on that experience.
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