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CHARTER SCHOOL FACTS
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE EXCELLENT SCHOOLS!
STUDENT ACHIEVMENT
As self-governing entities, charter schools have the autonomy to make quick, effective changes to meet students’ specific needs.
Charter schools, while subject to the same laws, rules and regulations affecting all public schools, have the flexibility to innovate but are held accountable for student achievement.
Charter schools hold students, teachers and parents accountable for improving student achievement.
AUTHORIZING BODIES
While under the general supervision of the State Board of Education, each charter school has a board of directors and is authorized by a university, community college, intermediate school district or a local school district, and the authorizer is responsible for oversight. Central Michigan University is the Authorizing body for New Branches School.
Charter authorizers collect and scrutinize reams of information from their schools. CMU has three auditors monitoring the financial reports of 59 charters. That compares to two auditors and three financial analysts at MDE looking over some 800 districts and ISDs.
CHARTER STUDENTS
Charter schools are independent public schools that are open to all students, regardless of income, gender, race or religion.
Charter schools provide a tuition-free education for all students through an open enrollment process, with random lotteries held if the number of applicants outnumber available seats.
TEACHER CERTIFICATION
The high-quality teachers in charter schools are certified under state law, just like teachers in any school. Michigan Department of Education data from fall 2007 shows nearly 100% of charter teachers are certified.
BENEFITS
Charters benefit communities by providing educational choices that attract and retain families and prepare students for productive futures.
Charter schools are schools of choice that provide a high-quality option to families who are dissatisfied with their traditional district school.
According to the Michigan Dept of Education, charter school students in grades K-8 outperform students in similar traditional public school districts in 25 of 27 MEAP tests.
FUNDING
Charter schools run independently of traditional school districts, yet since they are public schools they are funded by taxpayer money.
Michigan spent $13.5 billion on state aid for K-12 education last year; roughly $700 million of that went to charters.
Charter Schools achieve academic excellence and are chosen by parents even though charter schools receive about $2,300 less per pupil in funding than their host districts.
*information provided by MAPSA, Michigan Association of Public School Academies
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