Charter schools are driving success, innovation and progress.
Charter schools are
Authorizers are the institutions that decide who can start a new charter school, set expectations and oversee school performance, and decide which schools should continue to serve students or not. Depending on state law, authorizers can be school districts, education agencies, independent boards, universities, mayors and municipalities, and not-for-profits.
A full-service charter school management company will do everything from establishing the
Not every charter school has a management company, some are entirely independently-managed, while others opt for a-la-carte services, like human resources or accounting.
Yes, every single charter school in the state of Michigan is a tuition-free, public entity with nonprofit status.
Many charter schools work with external for-profit organizations, such as management companies and other service providers, to operate their schools - just like traditional public schools who work with vendors to provide things like school lunches, books, and accounting services. However, these partnerships in no way affect the nonprofit status of any charter school.
Charter schools have the flexibility and autonomy to differentiate their curriculum, facilities
Charter schools, like district public schools, are funded according to enrollment, and receive funding from the district and the state according to the number of students attending. Unlike traditional district schools, most charter schools do not receive funding to cover the cost of securing a facility.
In 2021, the funding equity gap between the state minimum and state maximum per-pupil foundational allowance was closed, ensuring that charter students (who were formerly funded at the state minimum) received equitable funding for their education.
The board members who serve Michigan’s public schools share many things in common. Whether elected or appointed, they are public officials, trustees of our children’s futures and united by the belief that a high-quality education should be accessible to all. But unlike traditional public schools, Michigan’s charter schools are organized under nonprofit school boards appointed by authorizers like Central Michigan University, the entities with the authority to approve new charter schools. We believe that this structure of governance provides a number of very important advantages.
Yes, as public schools, charters are held to the exact same state-mandated academic standards and participate in the same state testing. You can view the academic performance of any charter school, and compare results with other charters and traditional public schools by visiting the MI School Data Parent Dashboard for School Transparency.
Yes, charter schools regularly meet and exceed traditional public school performance standards, earning top rankings in annual U.S. News & World Reports.
Check out our press releases to see which charters are leading in Michigan.
Yes, in areas like Detroit and Flint, where education systems are often failing children, charter schools have drastically improved access to quality learning opportunities - and the results speak for themselves. Consider the following data from Detroit (2017).
Charter schools challenge the concept that our long-standing traditional public school system is the best fit for every student and every family. In doing so, charters are also challenging curriculum, facilities setup, management style and more.
Inherently, charters thrive under principles of flexibility and autonomy, which inherently position them as a hot-button issue for political leaders on both sides of the
Now more than ever, charter schools are used as a political test by political contributors. Too many times, to effectively run in a Democratic seat as a lawmaker, there is an unspoken requirement that you will take a stand and oppose charter schools. Yet we know that in Michigan, charter schools are widely supported by various parent demographics.
MAPSA, MI's Charter School Association, advocates for and supports the charter students, educators, families & advocates statewide.
While COVID-19 meant some schools had to pause instruction, many charters embraced the challenge head on, creating amazing opportunities at a distance.
The MI Charter School Teacher of the Year award identifies top MI charter teachers, who are redefining excellent instruction. Meet the 2021 finalists & winner!
The MI Charter Administrator of the Year award honors charter school leaders who exemplify the qualities of a great educator and leader. Meet the 2021 finalists and winner!
Charter schools offer unique, supportive environments for students, which better prepare them for the challenges of college & beyond. Meet five charter grads now!
We believe that K-12 education must continue elevating to meet the needs of modern learners. We hope the education of tomorrow is accessible, accountable, innovative & successful.
Michigan's Charter School Association
123 W Allegan, Ste 750
Lansing, MI 48933
Ph: (517) 374-9167