By 2020, there will be over 7,000 charter schools in the US, with 3.3 million children enrolled in them. Even while the number of charter schools has continuously increased over time, they still make up a relatively tiny portion of all US public schools.
Although they are a relatively new phenomenon, charter schools are not just found in the US. Similar models of publicly supported, privately run schools have also been adopted by other nations, including Sweden, Chile, and the United Kingdom. But charter school policies and exact structures differ widely from nation to nation. On the other side, charter schools do not exist in Canada. Although some provinces let private schools to operate, they do not receive public financing and are subject to stringent rules. The Canadian educational system is mostly supported by taxes.
Dissatisfaction with conventional public schools, a desire for more parental choice, and a conviction in the potential for innovation and experimentation in education have all contributed to the growth of charter schools in the US. But the expansion of charter schools has also generated debate and criticism, with some contending that they worsen already-existing disparities by taking students and resources away from regular public schools.
In summary, charter schools are exceptional in that they can run independently while still receiving government money. This adaptability has encouraged the creation of cutting-edge educational approaches and raised parental participation. Although comparable concepts have been used in other nations, charter school structures and rules differ widely. The desire for more parental choice and educational innovation has fuelled the expansion of charter schools in the US, but it has also been met with debate and criticism.
Every state has a different proportion of charter schools. To determine the precise figure, you would need to look up the details for each state. However, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools reports that there were more than 7,500 charter schools open and operating in the US as of the 2019–2020 academic year.
Private schools are primarily supported by tuition fees given by parents or private donors, whereas charter schools are publicly sponsored and do not charge tuition. Additionally, whereas private schools are not subject to the same amount of regulation, charter schools are held accountable for their performance by the state or the body that authorized them. Finally, unlike private schools, which are allowed to be selective in their admissions procedures, charter schools are mandated to have an open enrollment policy and are not permitted to discriminate against students based on their background.