Considering a charter school for your child? Keep these facts and factors in mind when researching your public school options.
Whether you consider charter schools a welcome alternative to underperforming public schools or a flawed take on education reform or something in between, there’s no denying their growing popularity in the U.S. The first charter school opened in 1992 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and now there are about 7,800 charter schools enrolling 3.7 million students in 43 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Though supporters maintain that charter schools improve education by giving parents more choices and offering students more creative approaches to learning, opponents say the innovation promised by such schools often doesn’t translate into strong academics. In truth, it depends on the school, the students, and the comparisons being drawn.
As you dig into your child’s educational options, use this primer to make a more informed decision about which learning environment best suits your child’s needs.
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