Frequently Asked Questions

What is a charter school?

A charter school is a tuition-free public school funded by taxpayers and open to all students within the Commonwealth. A charter school is a public, non-profit, self-managed organization led by passionate administrators, a board of trustees, and faculty and staff members. 

Are charter schools public schools?

Yes! Just like traditional public schools, charter schools are tuition-free for families, publicly funded, nonsectarian, and have nondiscriminatory enrollment. Charter schools are accountable to state and federal regulations and are governed by a Board of Directors who are public officials.

How are charter schools funded?

Funding follows the student from their home school district to the public charter school when a family makes the choice for their student’s public school education to take place in a charter school. As noted by the Coalition of Public Charter Schools, in the 2015-2016 school year, public charter schools received roughly 75% of the funding that traditional public schools received. The other 25% remains at the child’s home district; this means that charter schools operate with less public funding than traditional public schools.

How are charter schools held accountable?

Charter schools are held accountable to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, as well as their host district, who have the authority to renew or not renew a school’s charter. 

Charter schools are the most accountable public school system in Pennsylvania, with the threat of closure as the ultimate accountability. Both district and charter schools have: state exams, periodic review, financial audits, and annual reporting. Charter schools also have: closure process and parental choice.

A charter school board member, once appointed, is a public official and is held to the same standards as any public board member in the Commonwealth, and must comply with the PA Sunshine Law regarding open meetings, must provide an annual Statement of Financial Interest form, and must comply with the PA Ethics Act.

How do charter schools select their students?

Charter schools hold lotteries to enroll students if the demand exceeds available seats. Charter schools are prohibited from having selective enrollment requirements; they must accept all students, including English learners and students of all abilities. Charter schools serve all children.

Are charter schools for-profit?

Pennsylvania requires all charter schools to be organized as a public, non-profit organization. 

Do charter schools enroll special education students?

Yes, charter schools enroll a similar ratio of special education students as district schools. As noted by the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, in the 2016-2017 school year, 17.61% of charter school enrollment was special education students, while traditional district schools had a special education enrollment of 16.37%.

Will my child be academically challenged in a charter school?

Yes; just like traditional district schools, charter schools offer rigorous and engaging academics for their students. Charter school curricula must align with all Pennsylvania Department of Education standards. Many charter schools offer Honors, Gifted, and Advanced Placement (AP) coursework, just like traditional schools. See our Academics page for more details on  Dogwood’s curriculum.