How Charter Schools Give Families More Choice

There are many types of charter schools

When you hear the term “charter schools”, what you picture might be different than what someone else does. That’s because there are many different types of charter schools around the country. Robust authorizing systems – whereby school administrators apply for and receive their official charter to operate – allow for the founding of many unique schools that meet local needs.

These different types of schools (as categorized by the American Enterprise Institute) all represent different opportunities for students and their families to get the best education for their strengths, beliefs, learning styles and location.

Some of these schools are differentiated by their way of teaching. These types of schools include:

• Purposefully Diverse – These schools are set up to create a socioeconomically and/or racially diverse student body.
• Classical – Classical schools are based on the Socratic method or the Trivium (grammar, dialectic and rhetoric).
• Credit Recovery – Schools that fall into this category are designed to help students graduate. Among others, they work with students who have formerly dropped out, but wish to come back to graduate, young parents and youths who are unable to attend traditional schools after being found guilty of delinquent behavior.
• Hybrid or Online – Hybrid schools are a combination of human and computer-led teaching and online is school that is entirely online.
• No Excuses – These schools have high standards of behavior and clear feedback systems.
• Progressive – These are child or learner-led schools like Waldorf, Steiner or Montessori Schools. They are frequently described as project or inquiry-based programs.

Other charter schools specialize in teaching different subjects. These types of schools include:

• STEM – These schools are focused on science and mathematics instruction.
• International / Foreign Language – While most or all of these schools have significant focus on foreign language, some also spend time teaching about different cultures.
• Military – At these schools, students wear military uniforms and drill as military units would.
• Vocational Training – These schools have a clear focus on vocational training such as job skills and hands-on training.
• Public Policy – These schools focus on civic engagement as well as political knowledge and participation.

Every child is different. No one type of school – charter, district, private or otherwise – will be the right for all of them. Charters give parents the opportunity to find the right one for their own children.

When every child has access to their best educational shot, we all benefit.