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Charter schools across the country are garnering increased attention because of their higher standards and ability to outperform other public schools. A common misconception about charter schools is that they are private schools. In actuality, charter schools are tuition-free public schools which have received a charter from the state in which they operate. This allows them to function as public schools and receive some public funding, but the school is still responsible for keeping its charter from year to year. Because they seek to renew their charter annually, charter schools have an incentive to perform and to maintain higher standards than other public schools.
Charter schools, however, do not have admission requirements, nor can they choose their students based on ability. When demand exceeds available space, charter schools operate on a lottery basis. Those that are not admitted through the lottery process are placed on a waiting list. Students on the waiting list are selected in the order the application was received unless the student’s sibling is already enrolled in the charter school. Students with siblings already enrolled are moved to top of the waiting list to ensure the entire family is part of the charter school.
Charter schools place a large emphasis on parental involvement, which is one of the many reasons charter schools are so successful. Many charter schools require parents to volunteer for a set number of hours per school year. Volunteering takes on many forms, such as helping in the classroom or office, supervising recess, creating a school website, landscaping the school grounds, etc. This type of service creates a family, can-do atmosphere. When parents are actively involved in their child’s education, it increases the chances of their child’s success.
Charter schools are not limited by geography. Since they are not part of a traditional school district, you can live as close or as far away from the school as you would like, as long as you provide transportation. So if you really like a subdivision but not its school district, charter schools provide a good alternative.
One of the many advantages to choosing a charter school is its strict disciplinary code. Each charter school adopts a code of conduct to which all students must adhere. Violation of these codes is taken very seriously and can jeopardize the student’s enrollment. Charter schools also often adopt a dress code which acts as an equalizer among students with varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
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