What is a Public Charter School?

Nearly 27,000 students attend 65 tuition-free, public charter schools in Indiana. Public charter schools provide choice in education to parents. They are free to be creative and innovative in their approach, but are held to strict accountability standards for student achievement.

• Are tuition-free, public schools.
• Provide parents with choice to choose among schools, curricular focus, and extra-curricular offerings.
• Are accountable to their charter authorizer, state and federal law, and can be closed for failure to meet achievement levels.
• Must enroll any student, without discrimination for any reason, until enrollment in the school is filled.
• Have high levels of parental satisfaction.
• Provide more flexibility in the design and execution of curriculum.
• Give more flexibility to school leaders in responding to parent and student needs.Generally provide students with more structure, focus, and opportunity for parental involvement.

Vision

IPCSA envisions a comprehensive network of public charter schools serving the needs of families and students throughout the state. These schools prepare all students to live productive and successful lives by offering only the highest-quality educational opportunities. All Indiana public charter schools demonstrate a commitment to excellence and accountability.

They encourage continuing innovation and creativity within their own schools and beyond. They actively engage and value parents and foster greater community access and involvement in public schools. Indiana's charter schools set the gold standard for public education in our state.

Values

IPCSA believes the following:

• All Indiana students and their families should have the opportunity to attend a high-quality public school.
• A significant number of high-quality public charter schools will have a positive impact on the larger educational environment.
• A high-quality public charter school is defined by high student achievement, good governance, sound financial management and a commitment to accountability and excellence.
• Autonomy and choice are critical components of public charter school success.
• Both individual and collective public charter school successes are more likely with strong, state-level support.