Like traditional public schools, charter schools are tuition-free. They do not have admissions requirements or entrance exams, and they are required to participate in state testing.
Public charter schools receive 100% of federal funds, 100% of state funds, and up to 10 mills of local funds associated with each child enrolled at the public charter school. These state and federals funds are often allocated to specific programs. Since charter schools do not get local funding, this leaves them to bring in the rest of their funding via grants and gifts from loyal donors.
Charter schools are exempt from some public school district laws, which provides them with autonomy and flexibility regarding curriculum, staff, and budget in exchange for delivering academic results and meeting the charter requirements. While there is freedom in this, charter schools still have regular accountability audits from the state department.
A charter school is a tuition-free, independently-operated public school of choice that is held accountable via a contract (charter) with an authorizing agency such as a local school system or the state commission. It is required to be under a non-profit organization. LEAD Academy is authorized by the State Charter Commission and has to answer to the commission for all that we do.