Introduction

Charter schools are free, public schools that are open to all students. A charter school gives parents the choice of sending their children to a school that uses innovative methods to provide a quality education in a small, responsive learning environment. Charter schools operate under a charter agreement with their authorizer. They have a high degree of autonomy but also a high degree of accountability.

Charter schools are part of the public education system and are committed to improving public education. Idaho's Charter School Law was passed with bi-partisan support in 1991. The legislative intent of the law, as outlined, is to provide opportunities for teachers, parents, students and community members to establish and maintain public charter schools which operate independently from the existing school district structure but within the existing public school system as a method to accomplish any of the following:

1. Improve student learning;
2. Increase learning opportunities for all students;
3. Include the use of different and innovative teaching methods;
4. Utilize virtual distance learning and on-line learning;
5. Create new professional development opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site;
6. Provide parents and students with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are available within the public school system; and
7. Hold the schools established under this chapter accountable for meeting measurable student educational standards.

This site is designed to provide information, resources and assistance to charter school petitioners, operating charter schools, authorizers, and the general public.