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Policymakers

charter schools need support

The National Alliance works with policymakers on behalf of the charter school community at the national, state, and local levels, including advocating for resources to launch and expand charter schools and a supportive policy environment. We work closely with charter school stakeholders, state departments of education, the U.S. Department of Education, and key members of Congress to ensure that charter schools are treated fairly in policy, funding, and regulations. 

More than 30 years after the first charter school opened its doors, demand for these innovative public schools remains high. Nearly 75% of U.S. parents say they would consider enrolling their children in a charter school if one were available. Policymakers play a critical important role in ensuring families are able to access high-quality public school options. We rely on policymakers who are willing to stand up for families and make sure charter schools are fairly funded and we can continue to provide new options to students who would not otherwise have access to a public school that meets their needs. 

Standing Up For Charters

“Charter schools provide an alternative learning environment that motivates students to be successful and allows schools to focus on student achievement at all grade levels.”

Kim Reynolds

Iowa Governor

“Parents clearly see the benefits of these high-quality, innovative public school options; that’s why charter school enrollment grew last year by nearly a quarter of a million students.”

Tim Scott​

U.S. Senator (SC)

“If there are parents in my district who have concluded that the best option for their children is a charter school, then who am I to tell them otherwise?”

Ritchie Torres

U.S. Representative (NY)

Why charter schools?

Charter Schools Are Public Schools

  • One size doesn’t fit all in education. Students and families want to have a choice in public schools.
  • Each school has its own unique focus and learning environment, allowing the students to learn in ways that fit them best.
  • Charter schools are open to any student who wants to enroll and there is never a cost to attend.
  • Charter schools consistently serve students well. According to research by Stanford University’s CREDO, charter students on average receive 16 days of additional learning in reading and 6 additional days in math each year.
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Resources & research

Please see resources listed below or visit our research & data page for more information.

State Quick Links

Frequently Asked Questions About Charter Schools

Public charter schools currently serve more than 3.7 million students in roughly 7,800 schools and campuses. In the 2020-21 school year, charter schools enrolled 7.5% of all public school students in America. Since the 2005-06 school year, the number of charter schools and campuses has more than doubled, while charter school enrollment has more than tripled. Learn more about charter schools in your state here.

According to the most recently available data (2019-20 school year), nearly 70% of charter school students are Black or Brown,  compared to 53% of district school students.

Black and Hispanic students made up 60% of the charter school population during the  2019-20 school year—including the highest proportion of Hispanic students (35%) the charter movement has seen in the previous 11 years.

Charter schools consistently served a higher proportion of students who receive free and reduced-price lunch from 2009 to 2020.For state-by-state breakdowns of district and charter school demographics in the most recent available school year, please see the National Alliance’s data dashboard.

Charter schools are funded by public dollars, the same as any other public school; however, they generally receive fewer dollars per pupil than district schools. Though there are year-to-year fluctuations, the average charter school receives 75 cents for every dollar the average district school receives. 

In the most recent year of available data (2017-18 school year), the average charter school received approximately $2,730 less per student than the average district school. Per-pupil funding in charter schools is less than per-pupil funding in 24 of the 27 states for which we have data. Learn more at data.publiccharters.org

Most charter schools (62%) are freestanding, meaning the school is self- managed. The remaining 38% of charter schools contract with external organizations for management-related services such as staffing, curriculum, services for students with disabilities, facilities, and back-office support. Management structures and the relationships these external partners have with their schools vary considerably. In some cases, the management organizations provide limited services; in other cases, they may provide nearly all management-related services and directly hire educational staff.

The two types of management organizations are nonprofit charter management organizations (CMOs) and education management organizations (EMOs). CMOs account for 29% of charter schools nationwide, while EMOs manage 9% of charter schools. Learn more at data.publiccharters.org

Charter schools are allowed to operate by “authorizers.” Approximately 48% of charter schools are authorized by school districts (local educational agencies or LEAs). Lawmakers give authorizers the authority to approve, oversee, and renew charter schools. Authorizers are typically public agencies, such as local school districts and state departments of education. In some states, however, other governmental agencies (like a city or mayor’s office) might fulfill this role. Colleges and universities, independent charter boards (ICBs), and/or non-profit organizations might be given authorizing ability as well.

Authorizers decide whether or not a school may open, what standards must be met for it to remain open, and have the power to determine if a school must close. Charter schools must demonstrate success in order to retain and renew their charter, and authorizers hold these schools to the same (or often higher) accountability standards as their district-run peers. The National Alliance’s model law recommends multiple authorizers in every state; however, to date, 14 states only offer one authorizing option, and eight only allow LEAs to authorize charter schools. The National Association of Charter School Authorizers defines which types of authorizers are allowed and operating in each state in their helpful resource Authorizer Types Across the Country.

Charter schools can be started by any interested party, including parents, community members, and teachers.  It is common to see charter schools led by former teachers who wanted to take the lessons they learned in the classroom and scale them to an entire school community. It is helpful to first identify a unique need in the community that the charter school would serve and connect with a local charter school authorizer. You can learn more about the charter school authorizers in your state on the National Association of Charter School Authorizers website.

Do charter schools take money from public schools?

No. Charter schools are public schools. They are unique public schools that are independently operated and are still part of the public education ecosystem, rather than entities that divert funding from this ecosystem. Public schools—both district and charter—have three primary sources of funding: federal, state, and local. Please see the National Alliance’s data dashboard for more information: data.publiccharters.org.

How does a child qualify for enrollment at a charter school?

Charter schools do not have admission requirements or entrance exams. Most charter schools have an enrollment period when parents can submit applications for the school. If there are more applications submitted than seats available, they will hold a randomized blind lottery to determine which students are admitted or may preference students by need or location.

Are charter schools better than other public schools?

There are exceptional public schools of both types–district and charter. Charter schools provide a high-quality education option to public school students whose families are looking for something different, while upholding high standards that meet and often exceed district or state requirements. Each of the more than 7,700 charter schools is unique—both inside and out. Some may focus on college prep, some follow a Montessori curriculum, and others integrate the arts into each subject.

Looking to Get Political?​

Join the movement

Pass and Strengthen Bills
Visit the Charter School Action Fund
Donate to Support Charter Schools
Recognize a Charter School Leader

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For questions regarding wire transfers, please email of call Celia Hagerman at celia@publiccharters.org or 202-600-8994.

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For questions regarding stock, please email of call Celia Hagerman at celia@publiccharters.org or 202-600-8994.

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If you or your spouse work for a company that provides matching gifts, you can make an even bigger impact! To have your gift matched, you must submit your company’s completed matching gift form.

Please send all completed matching gift forms to:

National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
800 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006.

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Advocates Council

Contact Celia Hagerman at celia@publiccharters.org or 202-600-8994.

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Legacy Society

Contact Celia Hagerman at celia@publiccharters.org or 202-600-8994 to learn more about the Legacy Society or for any other inquiries regarding planned giving.