Choosing where to put your children in school is a major decision for many parents and can have a significant impact on the quality of education that your children receive. Two of the options that exist are charter schools and public schools, both of which are publicly funded options. This article will help you understand the key differences when deciding between charter schools vs. public schools.
Quality of Education
One key, and controversial, point when it comes to comparing charter schools to public schools is the quality of education provided. Charter schools have a great deal of flexibility in determining the curriculum that they teach, and in many schools, parents are able to contribute their opinions and preferences regarding the curriculum. Public schools are very limited in terms of flexibility around what they
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This provides more teaching time and can also be a major consideration for parents who struggle to find care for their children during long school breaks.
Funding
Public schools and charter schools are both publicly funded, in that their funds come from federal, state, and local governments. This is why the two are often compared and publicly debated, as public schools see money given to charter schools as coming out of their budgets. Charter schools are often non-unionized, creating another dynamic in terms of groups that oppose charter schools and their funding.
Charter schools often seek private funding as well, through donations or grants, and these supplemental funds can be a significant advantage to the school's ability to fund operations. While most charter schools are independent and not-for-profit, there are some private companies running charter schools now and finding ways to generate a profit and better education results.