New Hampshire Charter Public Schools

What are Charter Schools?

Charter schools are public schools. They operate with freedom from many of the regulations that apply to traditional public schools but agree to greater accountability. The 'charter' establishing each school is a performance contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals, and students served, methods of assessment, and ways to measure success. Charters are granted for a term of three to five years. At the end of the term, the entity granting the charter may renew the school's contract. Charter schools are accountable to their sponsor- usually a state or local school board- to produce positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract. There is no limit to the number of local charter schools.

In exchange for this accountability, charter schools have the freedom to choose the methods and processes they think will best help them deliver results. Innovative teaching practices and strategies, class structure and other academic tools can be used and tested and then quickly modified to meet the needs of the student population. And since the initiative to start a charter school can come from a wide variety of entities - parents, teachers, community/business leaders, entrepreneurs and school districts, for example - there typically is significant community involvement and support.