Outcome-based public schools that operate under a contract between the school and the local school board or the state are called charter schools. They usually have a sponsor, such as a school district, public university, state board of education, or state agency.
Charter schools are an option that 19 states have pursued, in part to encourage closer ties between schools and families. These schools are responsible for improving student achievement over a three- to five-year period. If a charter school does not show improved student performance, it can be closed by the sponsoring agency.
Because charter schools are responsible for improving achievement and because educators know that more involved parents help increase student achievement, many charter schools encourage parents to be deeply involved. A California study (Becker, Nakagawa, & Corwin, 1995) compared charter elementary schools with other elementary schools serving comparable students and found major differences in the ways charter schools work with parents. Although 19 states have adopted charter legislation, the idea remains controversial. Many teachers unions and their leaders express caution and concern about charter schools. For educators and parents seeking to learn more about this alternative, extensive information on charter public schools is available.
