What Is a Charter School?

A charter school is a free public school that is independently run. It is granted freedom from some rules and restrictions that govern traditional public schools in return for greater levels of accountability in areas like academic achievement and financial management. Unlike traditional public schools, where families are assigned a school by zip-code, all charter schools are schools of choice. Every family in a charter school has chosen to send their child there. In Oklahoma, charter schools are the fastest growing portion of the public-school system.  

Each charter school has a unique identity. Some focus on intense college preparatory coursework; others offer immersion in foreign languages; and still others offer online-based curricula with greater flexibility to learn from home.