Charter Schools
Charter schools are independent public schools designed and operated by educators, parents, community leaders, educational entrepreneurs and others. While they are publicly funded and tuition-free, they act more like private schools, in that they operate outside of many of the traditional regulations of the public system, such as how to hire teachers, the academic focus, and even the number of days and hours students must attend. Here is a great article about all the ins and outs of charter schools, written in June 2011 from a national perspective.
The first charter schools in Tennessee opened in the fall of 2003, having been authorized by the Tennessee Public Charter Schools Act of 2002. In June 2011, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam signed a new charter school bill which lifted the cap on the number of charter schools in the state, and allows any student in a charter school's jurisdiction to attend. In Memphis, approximately 6,300 students (about 6% of city school students) currently attend charter schools. For the 2011-2012 school year, there will be twenty-six charter schools operating in Memphis and Shelby County.
Why might a parent consider a charter school?
- Charters provide an alternative to assigned schools.
- Some charter schools offer special subject matter focus, such as science, engineering, music, or business, among other topics.
- A charter school may offer extended learning time (longer school day, week, and/or year).
- Innovative teaching methods may be employed.
Who can attend a charter school in Tennessee?
Any student who lives in the charter school's jurisdiction is eligible to attend, but low-income students get priority. Legislation was signed into law in June 2011 removing restrictions on which children are allowed to attend charter schools.
Where can I find more info about Memphis charter schools?
Here's a list of all the charter schools in Memphis provided by the Tennessee Charter School Incubator.
