Depending on who you ask, charter schools represent either an existential threat to public schools or an innovative model for learning.

But for many families, charters are just one of many public school options to consider.

This story isn’t wading into the debate of whether the existence of the schools are good or bad. Rather, this is a quick guide to understanding:

• How charters got here
• Who’s in charge 
• What we know about student outcomes
• Why a family might choose to attend one
• What to consider when looking at schools

Why do charter schools exist?

Charter schools were conceived as the test kitchens of the public education system. The original notion was that charters would launch small-scale experiments — and that larger, less-nimble districts could learn from charters and take their experiments to scale.

California was the second state in the U.S. to legalize charter schools in 1992 (the first was Minnesota).

"The way I explained it was that it was like having a great deal more freedom in a public school. But unlike a private school which has an enormous amount of freedom, there would be certain steps that you couldn't cross over,” late California State Sen. Gary K. Hart told LAist in 2016. “What we were attempting to do was to give local communities much greater freedom as to how they went about establishing their educational goals and objectives and how they went about accomplishing those objectives."

To that end, charters are exempt from many of the state laws that govern traditional public schools. Leaders of a charter school have more freedom to try new methods of teaching, select the materials they wish to use, and more easily hire (or fire) teachers, who at most charter schools are not unionized.

California charter schools cannot:

• Charge tuition 
• Discriminate against any pupil on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability
• Be affiliated with a specific religion

More than a quarter of the state's charter schools are located in L.A. County, according to the California Department of Education. L.A. Unified School District alone is home to more than 300 charter schools. About 16% of Los Angeles County public school students attend a charter school.

In some cases, the model works as California law intends and students have access to high-quality, innovative schools.

“A core tenet of the charter school movement is the notion that, you know, there's not one size fits all,” said Keith Dell'Aquila, vice president of local advocacy in the Los Angeles region for the California Charter Schools Association. “Our kids are different and unique, and so we need a school system and a system of schools that are also different and unique and meet different needs.”

But critics say there's much about the model that isn't working. They say charter schools are no longer a small-scale experiment, but a massive, flawed parallel school system that threatens the existing, district-run system.

How does a charter school get made?

Anyone can propose a charter school. Prospective operators must create a document that describes how the school will run, including who’s in charge, the educational program, and how students' progress will be measured.

Before a charter school can open, it needs permission from an authorizer. In most cases, the authorizer is the elected board of the school district in which the charter school is located. Sometimes an authorizer is the county's Office of Education or the State Board of Education.

Legally, authorizers can consider whether the school's academic, financial and governance plans are sound. And, as of 2019, whether the charter would have a negative financial effects on district schools or undermine existing programs.

If an authorizer rejects the prospective founders' petition, the applicant can appeal to a higher level — first to the county's Office of Education and, in a limited number of cases, to the California State Board of Education.

If the authorizer approves the petition, the founders must reapply every few years and show the school is meeting its goals and student needs.

During this renewal process, authorizers can revoke the charter of schools that are financially unsound and where students do not make academic progress. Like the initial petition, this decision can be appealed.

Charter schools may choose to shut down of their own accord. For example, KIPP, a large network of charter schools, cited low enrollment in its decision to close three L.A. campuses in 2024. In a few extreme cases, charter schools shut down after operators enriched their own bank accounts while providing a substandard education for students.

One study found that about a third of California charter schools closed within 10 years. State data show that 183 charter schools have closed in L.A. County since 1999. School closures displace students and can have short- and long-term negative effects on students.

Who is in charge of charters?

You’ll encounter two distinct types of charters when it comes to governance.

Independent charters make up the vast majority of California charter schools. Nonprofit organizations run these schools. The day-to-day operations are overseen by a board, often appointed by the school’s founders or nonprofit leaders.

Independent charter schools must follow California’s open meeting laws. Community members, parents and educators can attend board meetings and have the opportunity to make a comment on items up for discussion. Charter schools must also provide access to public records.

Some charter school operators run just one or two campuses. In other cases, larger organizations manage several schools, up to hundreds in some cases.

Dependent charter schools operate within the governance of a traditional public school district. (In LAUSD, these schools are called affiliated charters).

Roughly one-quarter of California's charter schools operate as a district-run school.

Many of these schools were once regular district schools that converted to charter status. The head of LAUSD’s charter school division once described them as “really connected to the mothership.” The leaders of the school district oversee the schools, but they have some of the same legal freedoms as independent charter schools.

Where does the money come from?

Charter schools receive public funding. California distributes money to schools based on students’ average daily attendance and provides additional dollars to support low-income students, foster youth and English language learners.

Like traditional public schools, charter schools may also seek grants and private fundraising.

One big difference between charters and traditional public school districts is that charters cannot ask voters to approve bonds to fund facilities. There is some money available for charter school construction and repairs through a state program.

Are charter schools better than traditional public schools?

The answer isn’t clear.

It’s hard to create an “apples-to-apples” comparison between traditional public schools and charter schools because there are so many variables — from where students live to their socioeconomic background and how the schools are run.

Stanford researchers have been studying charter school academic performance since 2009. The most recent Center for Research on Education Outcomes study, released in 2023, found that as a whole, charter school students score slightly higher on reading and math tests than their “twin” from a nearby district school. Black and Hispanic students made even greater gains, but still didn’t catch up to their white peers.

The study's authors point out that because charter schools operate with so much flexibility, the success of one student or group of students at one school does not guarantee that the result will be universal.

Critics of CREDO’s research point out that the gains cited are so small as to be insignificant and question the organization’s methodology.

Charter school advocates acknowledge that the promise of innovation has fallen short in the classroom.

“The singular focus on closing the achievement gap and getting students to and through college has forced many of our leaders to focus on tried and tested methods of teaching,” the former head of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools told an EdWeek columnist last year.

In short: Whether your child thrives in a charter school will be shaped by their unique attributes, your family’s goals and a multitude of factors specific to that school.

What’s the controversy over?

Limited resources

California funds schools based on average daily attendance. Overall K-12 education spending has increased in recent years, but the state spends less per student than lots of other states.

School districts lose out on the state funding that follows each student who enrolls in an "independent" charter school. (School districts retain the funding for dependent and affiliated charter school students).

Though adding up how much money districts lose when students enroll in charters is not a straightforward exercise, this funding loss is central to what makes charter schools so controversial.

Another limited resource is space.

Charter schools may opt to lease private space at market rate and a small number have built their own facilities, but for others, their authorizers are also their landlords.

California voters passed Proposition 39 in 2000. The law requires schools provide space to charters that is “reasonably equivalent” to what students who attend traditional public schools receive. Disagreements on what “reasonably equivalent” actually means has resulted in multiple lawsuits.

In LAUSD, dozens of charter schools share a campus with a traditional public school. The policy, called co-location, has frustrated some parents and educators on both sides.

Traditional public school educators say co-locations have cost campuses space for music, food pantries, counseling and other resources. Charter school operators say the district has done the bare minimum to meet their students’ needs.

The LAUSD board voted in 2024 to steer co-locations away from campuses focused on improving outcomes for Black students and serving high-needs students. (The California Charter School Association subsequently filed a lawsuit that, as of June 2025, is still working its way through the court system).

The politics

In recent LAUSD elections, pro-charter and pro-union backers have spent millions of dollars to support their candidates of choice in each race. Though the biggest beneficiaries are not always victorious — see, for example, the 2024 race for the San Fernando Valley’s board district 3.

United Teachers Los Angeles often chooses to endorse candidates that closely align with its platform, which in recent years has included limiting the growth of charter schools in addition to workforce issues like teacher salaries and class sizes.

Charter school backers, which include the California Charter Schools Association and private philanthropists, generally advocate for candidates they believe are more likely to approve new charter schools and renew the charters for existing ones.

Prior candidates have rejected a focus on charter growth and results as an oversimplification.

The district’s political leaders are tasked with making decisions to support all public school students and families — regardless of whether they attend a charter or traditional public school.

The reality is that the majority of the challenges that face Los Angeles students (poverty, mental health struggles, pandemic learning loss) — and schools (aging facilities, falling enrollment, teachers shortages, limited funding) are shared by both charter and traditional public schools.

Teachers

California requires most public school teachers to earn a teaching credential. Requirements include:

• A bachelor’s degree
• Completing an accredited teacher prep program and two years of additional training
• A background check 
• 600 hours of student teaching

Historically, some charter school educators did not need a teaching credential, but in 2019 California passed a law requiring all charter school teachers to be credentialed by July 2025.

But both charter and traditional public schools can hire uncredentialed teachers through internship programs, emergency permits or waivers —16% of full-time California teachers lacked the appropriate credentials in the 2022-2023 school year, the most recent year of data from the California Department of Education. (You can also look up teacher qualifications for school districts and individual charter schools by selecting “staff assignment data,” on the department’s data website.)

A report from the California Charter School Association found charter teachers are, on average, younger and less experienced than traditional public school teachers.

The demographics of charter school teachers largely matches those of traditional public school teachers overall — most are white and about 20% are Latino. It’s worth noting that the California Department of Education has not published teacher demographic data since the 2018-19 school year, so that’s the most recent year available to compare.

Most staff at California charter schools are not part of a union, but at nearly 20% of schools that are organized, educators negotiate directly with school leaders over pay, benefits and other working conditions.

What information should I consider in my decision?

What are my child’s interests?

While all schools expose students to a variety of subjects and activities, some may focus on incorporating a specific theme or style of teaching throughout a child's educational journey.

LAist talked to several families who reconsidered their school options in later elementary years after their child showed interest in a specific topic.

Does my child have unique needs?

If you know or suspect your child has a disability, they may need additional support at school.

Federal law guarantees students with disabilities a “free appropriate public education,” but Congress has never fully funded special education as intended when the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) first passed in 1975. A lot of parents say they have to advocate for services to help their children learn and many families struggle to get help.

This law also applies to charter schools, though nationwide and in California, charters enroll a smaller proportion of students with disabilities than traditional public schools.

Advocates for students with disabilities say charter schools have the potential to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, but research thus far shows students who receive special education services make fewer academic gains than their peers in traditional public schools in academic growth. Smaller charter schools with fewer financial resources may have a harder time providing the resources these students need.

Here are some questions to consider asking a prospective school:

• What resources are available for families of children with disabilities? 
• How do you meet the needs of students with disabilities? 
• What's the turnover for special education teachers? Special ed aides?
• How do you identify children who struggle to read and what kinds of tools are available to help? 

How competitive is enrollment?

Charter schools must admit any student who wishes to attend, but if there is more demand than available seats, the school holds a lottery to determine who gets in. A school may also give priority to specific groups of students. For example, siblings of current students or those who reside within school district boundaries.

Ask:

• About the capacity, number of applications in previous years,  the number of openings for your child’s grade for the upcoming year and which students are prioritized if there is a lottery.

How will my child get to school?

California lags the nation in providing bus transportation to students.

The state doesn’t require schools to offer transportation though the federal government requires schools to provide it for a few specific groups of students, including some with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness.

Dell’Aquila, with the charter school association, said some schools run their own bus service or purchase Metro passes for families.

“Our schools are incredibly committed to helping anybody who wants to be there,” Dell’Aquila said.

Ask:

• What transportation is available?

Who cares for my child before and after school?

Many working families need child care outside of typical school hours, but not all schools offer before-or-after school programs.

Ask:

• Does the school provide before-and-after school care? If so, what’s the cost? 
• Can the school provide any referrals or suggestions for third-party before-and-after school care providers? 

Where will my child go for middle and high school? 

In the traditional public school system there is a clear pathway for where a child will attend school from kindergarten through high school — though families may choose to explore other options.

Not all charter schools offer every grade.

Ask:

• What grades does the school offer? 
• Are there any plans to expand? 
• If there is not a middle or high school, do staff have recommendations? 

What data can I consult to make my decision?

For better or worse, we have a school accountability system based largely on students’ standardized test scores.

“The scores tell you something, but usually they are — across the whole country — highly correlated with socioeconomic status,” Learning Policy Institute founding president Linda Darling-Hammond told LAist. “A lot of what they tell you is how well off economically are students in this school, rather than how much is the school contributing to their gains and growth.”

For example, one study in Mississippi found a school’s overall scores can mask outcomes for low-performing groups of students.

No one metric defines a great school and there are many factors beyond test scores to consider — from data about student attendance, discipline and parent surveys on school safety.

By far the most frequent piece of advice we’ve heard is to go on an in-person school tour if possible.

“The very best thing that people can do is go to the school and try to watch the way that educators interact with students, the way that students interact with each other, and the way that families are included or not in the life of a school,” said Jack Schneider, a University of Massachusetts Amherst education researcher and parent. “Once you do that, you really get a sense of what kind of place kids are going to school.”

Some schools post information about tours online, but you may have to call for details.

Once you’re there, here are some questions to ask:

• Can I talk to staff and students? 
• Do staff send their children to the school?
• What is staff turnover? 
• What professional development is available for staff? 
• How big are classes?
• What extracurricular activities are available? 
• What is the school’s approach to social and emotional learning? 
• How does the school handle discipline and bullying? 
• How much time do students spend on screens, i.e. working on computers or tablets? 
• Are there any recent or planned improvements to campus? 
• What opportunities are there for parents to get involved? Is there a parent-teacher association (PTA) or other organized group of families?
• Can the school help connect families to other community resources i.e. meals, mental health, housing support, internet access? 
• When is the school’s charter up for renewal? 

Here are some things to observe:

• What time of day does the tour take place? Is it a moment of transition like the beginning of the day or lunch?
• Are students engaged in the lessons? Wandering around campus? 
• What is the condition of the buildings, classrooms, playgrounds and school grounds?  Is there green space? 
• How are staff interacting with students and each other?
• What information is posted in the front office and hallways? Are there opportunities for parental involvement? 

We have a comprehensive overview of the information you can review from the comfort of home, but here are a few places to start your search.

Individual school websites: At their best, these platforms are a window into the school’s history, curriculum, current programs and events. On the other end of the spectrum, information can be sparse or outdated. But a bad website isn’t necessarily indicative of a bad school.

Individual school websites: At their best, these platforms are a window into the school’s history, curriculum, current programs and events. On the other end of the spectrum, information can be sparse or outdated. But a bad website isn’t necessarily indicative of a bad school.

Look for:

• Information about the school’s history including how long it’s been open and who operates the school
• Events 
• Tours 
• Extracurricular activities and after- and before-school programs
• How to contact teachers and administrators
• Parent and family resources

California School Dashboard: Here you can compare a school’s test scores and other information against state standards. Many measures are assigned a color from red (worst) to blue (best) based on performance from the current year and growth from the prior year.

School Accountability Report Card (SARC): The wonkiest of these options. The SARC is an annual assessment each school must submit each year; among the data is:

• Teacher qualifications
• School facility conditions
• Student support staff on campus (librarian, nurse, psychologist, etc.)

The website isn’t super user-friendly. Search for an individual school here and then click the button that says “view full SARC” to see all of the available information.

LAUSD’s school explorer, for affiliated LAUSD charter schools: You can search by location or by keywords. Each school page provides an overview of the programs and services available and few data points with a comparison to the district average including:

• Test scores
• Student demographics
• The percentage of students who feel safe at the school

For more information, including suspensions, attendance and the progress made by English Language Learners, visit the district’s open data site.

How can I meet other parents?

There’s parent Facebook groups, but there are also a variety of school, local government and parent-run organizations who can connect you to families willing to share their experiences.

At the school level:

• Parent-teacher association or a booster club.
• School site council, a group of parents, community members, staff, and students that advises leadership. 

At the city level:

• Local neighborhood council, the smallest and most accessible unit of L.A. government. Many have a representative focused on education.

How to enroll in a charter school

You’ll encounter two types of charter schools in LAUSD.

Affiliated charter schools run by the district and overseen by the elected school board.

• How to apply: Choices applications for affiliated charter school programs are typically due in mid-November and there is a late enrollment option early the following year. Apply online or in person at the school. When there are more applications than seats available, the school will conduct a lottery and must publish the date on its website. Students who are not selected join a waiting list.

Independent charter schools run by nonprofit organizations with unelected boards.

• How to apply: Independent charter schools have a separate application process that is unique to each school.

Illustration: Olivia Hughes / LAist