What is the Difference between Charter Schools and Public Schools?

People tend to think of Charter Schools as "really different," but they are not. In actuality, they are technically public schools. In fact, Public Schools have the same options that Charter Schools have such as extending the average school day, and year; however, they just don't do it. Most of the improvements Charter Schools implement to enhance student achievement are not silver bullets, but rather, sensible steps to take while trying to educate children in varying socioeconimic conditions.



Charter Schools have more control of their own:

• Teacher
• Finances
• Lesson Plans

The question that lingers on many people's mind is, "what is it that gets in between our children and a quality education?" Unfortunately, many of the policies we have today make it very difficult for public schools to function effectively, be managed effectively and utilize their resources properly. Some of the factors limiting the potential of public schools to function more effectively are due to internal 'politics,' but perhaps the largest factor is inertial, caused in no small part by the lack of incentives for public schools to perform better. For example, if a public school in a given area is failing, a parent will not be able to transfer their child to an alternative facility if that is the only public school within their district.

While many public schools are quite similar to one another in terms of curriculum, this is not the case with Charter Schools, and that is a good thing. For example, do you believe the lesson plans in Haddonfield, New Jersey should be the same as the lesson plans in Camden, New Jersey? Of course not. Different students in different areas have very different needs, as well as ways of learning, and so Charter Schools have the relative freedom to overcome traditional difficulties of public schools, who remain constrained by bureaucracy, and put the students' achievement first. This is why Charter Schools are a critical aspect of America's educational reformation.