Do You Have to Pay for Charter Schools?
With the benefits and advantages students receive while attending a charter school, one might assume the price of this learning experience is high. However, that is not the case at all. Parents and guardians looking to provide their children with a unique education opportunity can do so by enrolling them in a tuition-free charter school. Oregon Charter Academy, a virtual learning institution with a mission to help students grow academically and personally, dives deeper into charter schools and their costs to operate.
What Is a Charter School?
Different from a traditional public school, charter schools are tuition-free learning institutions and independently operated. Because of this, they have the flexibility and freedom to curate their curriculum to meet the needs of their students. In other words, they have the ability to dictate what areas of learning to focus on, offering students a special learning opportunity.
To ensure a charter school is providing its students with the highest possible quality education, member institutions are under the direct authority of a charter school authorizer. This authorizer is generally a nonprofit organization, government agency, or higher education university, providing oversight about what is taught and how.
How Are Charter Schools Funded?
Like conventional public schools, charter schools are tuition-free learning institutions. How they differ is the ways they receive funding on a state and federal level. This funding is crucial, allowing charter schools to operate and offer quality education meeting the academic standards listed in their charter agreement. Sources of funding for charter schools include:
Federal Funding
Charter schools can receive federal funding through a variety of means, one being federal grants. These enable charter schools to receive the assistance they need for startup costs and a variety of other operational expenses, such as:
Maintaining or upgrading facilities
Expanding education
Upgrading technology
State Funding
Certain states may be able to provide charter schools funding based on the size of their population. The amount of state funding generally is determined by per-pupil revenue, which is based on enrollment and referred to as average daily attendance. However, many states do not provide funds to charter schools that can be used for facilities and maintenance.
Other Benefits Charter Schools Offer
Offering a tuition-free education is not the only advantage of a charter school. They house a variety of other benefits, making them a desirable platform for parents and students alike. These include the following:
Smaller student-to-teacher ratio: Many charter schools have smaller class sizes compared to traditional public schools. This allows students an opportunity for more one-on-one learning time with the teacher.
Stricter accountability: While many parents are drawn to charter schools for their freedom in forming the curriculum, this also means that they can anticipate increased accountability from the charter authorizer.
Progressive learning: Given their flexibility, charter schools are always looking to push the boundaries of traditional teaching. Students can acquire useful skills through these learning techniques and use them to become successful in the classroom and in life.
Charter schools also are known for employing passionate, strong, and dedicated teachers who have a genuine interest in the students’ interests and academic progress. What’s more, parents can play a bigger role in their child’s education while they are enrolled at a charter school, as these institutions offer many opportunities for involvement.
Further Your Child’s Education in Oregon at No Cost
Considering all the advantages charter schools provide, it can be shocking to find out they do not require any costs to attend. No tuition fees or entrance fees make it possible for more parents and guardians to offer their children this unique learning experience. At Oregon Charter Academy, we provide students with their own Chromebooks to complete their coursework on – at no additional charge. As an online institution, this allows us to ensure students have all they need to become successful students and individuals. To learn more about how you can enroll your child at Oregon Charter Academy, please contact us today.