What is the governance structure of a charter school?

The governance structure of a charter school is characterized by its operation independently under a charter. This is a fundamental principle of charter schools, which are designed to operate with a certain degree of autonomy from the traditional public school system. They are established based on a charter or contract that outlines their mission, goals, and the educational methods they intend to use.

This independence allows charter schools to implement innovative educational practices and curricula tailored to the specific needs of their students and communities. They are held accountable for student outcomes and must meet performance benchmarks, but they are not managed by the local district board or supervised by an elected council. Instead, they have their own governing bodies, which often consist of boards or committees that are responsible for making decisions regarding the operations and educational framework of the school.

This structure promotes flexibility and encourages schools to adopt their own unique approaches to education, in contrast to traditional public schools, which are subject to more rigid governance structures and regulations.