Charter Schools

When it comes to the education of their children, families want choices.  In Louisiana, one of those choices is charter schools.

Charter schools are publicly funded, independently-operated public schools and do not charge tuition or fees. Charter schools are open to all students who wish to attend and cannot discriminate when making enrollment decisions.  While charter schools are not forced to enroll students based on an attendance zone, the student population of a charter school must reflect the at-risk population in the district where the school is located. 

Currently, during the 2011-2012 school year, 98 charter schools are operating in Louisiana, collectively serving approximately 44,000 students.  In 2012-2013, another 13 charter schools are scheduled to begin operating. 

HISTORY

Louisiana’s Charter School Law was originally enacted in 1995 (Act 192) as a pilot program to allow up to eight school districts to volunteer to participate.   The Law was expanded in 1997 (Act 477) to establish the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and local school boards as charter authorizers.  The Law defined four types of charter schools, based on:  whether the school is a start-up or conversion of an existing school; the legal status of the entity operating the school; the source and method of funding the school; and certain other provisions.  In 2003, through the adoption of Act 9, a new type of charter school was established for the operation of schools transferred to the Recovery School District.

CHARTER SCHOOL TYPES

• Type 1:  New start-up school authorized by local school board
• Type 2:  New start-up or conversion authorized by BESE
• Type 3:  Conversion of existing school authorized by local school board
• Type 4:  New start-up or conversion operated as a result of charter between a local school board and BESE
• Type 5:  School transferred to the jurisdiction of the Recovery School District and authorized by BESE

GOVERNANCE

Charter schools are authorized by the Board of Elementary of Secondary Education (BESE) or a local school board for a five-year period, subject to a three-year review.  

In Louisiana, charters are established by a variety of groups, including businesses, non-profits, parent groups, education groups and others.  However, sponsoring groups must include no fewer than three certified teachers. 

Charter schools are governed independently by a board of directors and are free from many laws and regulations governing traditional schools.  This allows charter schools significant flexibility and autonomy to allocate resources.  However, in exchange for this flexibility, charter schools are regularly monitored and must demonstrate defined academic achievement goals and maintain satisfactory financial and contractual performance indicators in order to have their charters renewed.  Thus, charter schools in Louisiana are subject to stringent standards as well as specific objectives outlined in their charter contracts with local school boards or BESE.

REQUIREMENTS

Charter schools are required to participate in the state’s accountability program, including high stakes testing.  Likewise, while charter schools are free to use a wide variety of educational resources and are not required to use state-approved textbooks, charters are required to meet minimum standards of instructional time, as mandated by state law.  However, the length of the day and year may vary from one school to another school.

In addition to meeting the qualification requirements of instructional faculty set forth by No Child Left Behind, Louisiana’s Charter School Law mandates at least 75 percent of the instructional faculty of Type 1, 2, 3 and 4 charter schools to be composed of teachers certified by BESE or the French Ministry of Education.  The makeup of certified teachers in Type 5 charter schools must reflect the school district from which the school was transferred.