Public Charter Schools
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Public Charter schools are public schools of choice that operate with freedom from many of the regulations
that apply to traditional public schools. The charter establishing each such school is a performance contract detailing the school's mission, program, goals, students served, and methods of assessment.
Charters are granted for a period of up to 5 years. At the end of the term, the State Board of Education may renew the school's contract. Public charter schools are accountable to the State Board of Education to produce positive academic results and adhere to the charter contract. The basic concept of public charter schools is that they exercise increased autonomy in return for this accountability. This autonomy is gained by requesting exemption from Title 6 of the Arkansas Education Code and State Board of Education rules. The charter schools are accountable for both academic results and fiscal practices to several groups: the sponsor that grants them, the parents who choose them, and the public that funds them.
Public Charter School Research
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The Arkansas Department of Education is pleased to provide this evaluation of all of the public charter schools, and the public charter school system, in the State of Arkansas. It was conducted by Huron Mountain Research Services, LLC during the winter and spring of 2006. It covers a history and Arkansas legal basis for public charter schools, an analysis of the scholastic performance of the Arkansas public charter schools, a review of the disciplinary records for these schools, and an analysis of the School Climate, Student, Teacher, and Parent Surveys conducted among some of the public charter schools.
Other Research
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Mary Ann D. Brown,
Program Director
Arkansas Department of Education
Public Charter Schools
Four Capitol Mall, Room 305-B
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-683-5313
Fax: 501-371-3514 |
