What is a Charter School?

There are four main reasons why parents are choosing charter schools for their children. These are:

• Parents know the strengths and weaknesses of their children best and will act in their children’s best interest
• Families are interested in reinforcing their values in their children, and will look for schools that accommodate the values they practice at home
• Parents are proxy consumers for their children in school, and when parents make the decision, it only strengthens the institution of the family
• Parents tend to place the best interests of their children at the forefront of their concerns

For more information on the overwhelming reasons parents are choosing charter schools, please click here.

No. Charter schools serve all students. In fact, charter schools have no selective enrollment requirements. They must accept all students, including English learners and students with special needs. Charter schools also hold lotteries to enroll students if there are not enough seats to meet demand.

Please click here for more information on common myths surrounding charter schools.

No. Charter schools are directly accountable to the authorizing school board or the Pennsylvania Department of Education who have the authority to renew or not renew a school’s charter.

Once appointed, a charter school board member, just like a traditional school board member, is a public
official who must comply with the PA Ethics Act and file an annual statement of Financial Interest Form. Also, the board must comply with the PA Sunshine Law regarding open meetings.

Please click here for more information on common myths surrounding charter schools.

Yes. As Local Education Agencies, they are held to the same state and federal mandates as all other public schools. In addition, Pennsylvania’s Public Charter Schools are accountable to:

• The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) which authorizes Cyber Charter Schools
• Their respective Charter Authorizer, either PDE or their local School District(s)
• The individual parents and families who choose Public Charter Schools to help their children achieve their goals

For more information, please click here for Pennsylvania’s Public Charter Schools List of Annual Reports.

Yes. Pennsylvania’s 15 Public Cyber Charter Schools provide a high quality, individualized education to over 34,000 students from 498 of Pennsylvania’s 500 School Districts.

Please click here for more information on Pennsylvania’s Public Cyber Charter Schools.

Yes, Public Charter Schools offer breakfast and lunch to students and provide free and reduced-price meals for families who qualify.

Bus transportation is provided in accordance with each school’s approved transportation plan.

Public Charter Schools are approved by and accountable to their “authorizers.” The term “authorizer” refers to the state entity or institution that has the legal right to issue charters to those who want to open Public Charter Schools. An authorizer is also responsible for oversight of these schools.