More Resources Impact of New Title I Requirements on Charter Schools: Non-Regulatory Guidance  PDF (130K) | MS Word (704K)

The U.S. Department of Education has issued guidance on the impact of the new Title I requirements on charter schools. Charter schools are public schools of choice that are freed from many of the traditional rules and regulations governing other public schools in exchange for greater accountability.

Charter schools are popular with policymakers, parents and teachers alike. While the first such school opened only a decade ago, today there are 2,700 schools serving almost 700,000 students nationwide. Research suggests that charter schools can boost performance particularly among disadvantaged children.

The guidance provides general information on how No Child Left Behind (NCLB) impacts charter schools, including details on accountability requirements; public school choice; supplemental educational services; and teacher and paraprofessional qualifications. The department also will soon issue new guidance on the Public Charter Schools Grant Program.

Some of the questions the guidance answers are how the new law defines a highly qualified charter school teacher; whether charter schools are required to make adequate yearly progress like other public schools; and if parents must be notified if a charter school is identified as in need of improvement. While charter schools are held to the same rigorous standards as other public schools, NCLB also respects the freedom and autonomy that the schools enjoy under state law.

Charter schools operate with a contract, or charter, from a public agency, according to individual state charter laws. They are created by groups of parents, teachers, school administrators or others who want to provide educational alternatives, and are free of cost to parents and open to all students, but exempted from most statutory and regulatory requirements in exchange for performance-based accountability. They must meet standards set forth in their charters for students and the school as a whole, or else the chartering agency can close the school.

To access the guidance, go to http://www.ed.gov/offices/OII/choice/charterguidance03.doc or http://www.ed.gov/offices/OII/choice/charterguidance03.pdf.  

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