In Ohio, a “Charter School” (also known as a community school in Ohio) is a new kind of public school, authorized in Ohio in June 1997.
Like all public schools, a charter school is nonsectarian (not affiliated with any religious sect), nondiscriminatory, and does not charge tuition.
Charter schools were created to provide more public education options for students and to improve the quality of schools. Charter schools must follow all laws pertaining to health, safety, and civil rights. They also must provide transportation to students within the district.
According to the Ohio Department of Education (1998), “Community schools enhance America’s public school system by providing a new stimulus and vehicle for innovation.” (Community Schools in Ohio, p.5) Currently, there are over 3,500 schools educating over 1.6 million students throughout the nation. In Ohio, there are more than 300 public charter schools educating over 88,000