School Choice & Charters

New Federal Data Detail the State of the States on Charter Schools

By Sarah D. Sparks — May 02, 2018 1 min read
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States vary widely on how they govern charter schools, in everything from how many schools can operate in a state to how much leeway they have in meeting regulations that govern traditional district-run schools, according to new federal data.

The federal Education Department’s State Education Reformswebsite on Wednesday released a variety of new information on state approaches to charters, as well as accountability systems, college readiness, and other measures. The data show nearly all states lay out charter schools’ responsibilities for special education, but fewer than half put a limit on how many total charters can operate.

While more than half of states required charter schools to use certified teachers, they often differed in the specifics. For example, Illinois requires all of a school’s teachers to be certified at some charter schools, but only some teachers to be certified at other charter schools. And in Idaho and Colorado, some charter school teachers can apply for waivers to certification.


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A version of this news article first appeared in the Charters & Choice blog.