What are the Main Benefits of Charter Schools?

Since children spend most of their time at school, they should learn in an environment where they thrive. Besides public and private schooling, an increasingly popular option for students is attending a charter school. These independently operated public institutions afford students learning opportunities they may not find at other schools. To help you determine which choice is best for your child’s educational needs, Oregon Charter Academy discusses several distinct benefits of charter schools.

Charter Schools Are Tuition-Free

As public schools, charter schools receive government funding from local, state, and sometimes federal tax dollars. They also may receive federal grants to pay for programs and student activities. Although charter schools usually obtain fewer financial resources than district public schools, they still can provide high-quality education without charging parents tuition.

Charter Schools Are Self-Governing

While charter schools must follow the same regulations regarding health and safety as public schools, they have more freedom when designing learning objectives. Charters have contracts that dictate unique requirements for student performance, discipline, the curriculum, and other administrative goals.

The autonomous nature of charter schools enables them to cater their programs to specific academic subjects or skill sets. For instance, one charter school may focus on STEM topics and another on fine and performing arts. Charters also may offer accommodations that public schools cannot provide, such as creating the entire curriculum in multiple languages.

Charter Schools Face Accountability

Some parents think the tremendous flexibility at charter schools makes them exempt from transparency about operations. On the contrary, charter schools can be held more accountable than public schools because they face the threat of closure if they do not comply with their contracts.

Since charter schools use public funding, they also are accountable to government agencies and taxpayers. As schools of choice, charters work diligently to uphold their reputations. If parents disapprove of their child's charter school education, they can transfer them to another school. These factors make charters work harder to deliver outstanding programs.

Charter Schools Have Fewer Students Per Class

Many charter schools limit the number of students they enroll to maintain small class sizes. With fewer students in each class, teachers can devote more time to each child, helping them better grasp the material. Additionally, small class sizes make it easier for timid students to ask questions and socialize without getting overwhelmed.

Charter Schools Offer Open Enrollment

Although charter schools have capacity limits, they make enrollment available to anyone. For example, most public charter schools cannot discriminate against prospective students based on race, religion, gender, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, and other related factors. This regulation applies to public and private schools, but the latter can reject an applicant for almost any other reason.

If a charter school does reach capacity, it may implement a lottery system to decide at random which students it will accept. This system ensures all children have an equal opportunity to attend the charter.

Charter Schools Are Inclusive

Childhood is the primary stage in life when people crave belonging. Charter schools strive to make each student feel they fit in by nurturing an inclusive and engaging atmosphere. Charters can make accommodations for students with special needs, such as 504 plans and Individual Education Programs (IEPs), and those who need English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction. They also offer clubs and activities that enable students to pursue their passions while receiving an education.

Charter Schools Feature Innovative Education

If the administrators at a public district school discover a problem with their curriculum, it can take months or the entire school year to fix the issue. Since charter schools operate under independent agreements, they typically do not wait long to address program concerns. This streamlined approach ensures students acquire the most updated instruction possible to succeed.

Increased freedom also permits charter schools to experiment with new technology and techniques. For instance, a charter school that provides online learning has experience utilizing virtual platforms to conduct lessons and communicate with students and their parents, making it easier to adapt to new technological developments and integrations.

Learn More About Charter Schools From Oregon Charter Academy

These benefits indicate how an education at a charter school competes with that at a public district or private institution. If you wish to send your child to a charter school, consider the virtual option of Oregon Charter Academy.

Founded more than 15 years ago, our tuition-free public charter school prepares students to thrive in an increasingly global and technologically advanced society through cutting-edge online platforms and teaching practices. The dedicated staff at Oregon Charter Academy fosters an inclusive and supportive learning environment, helping students succeed academically and personally. Contact us today to learn how our program serves elementary, middle school, and high school students throughout Oregon.