Governance:
* Public Schools: Governed by locally elected school boards and are part of the public school system. They must adhere to state and federal regulations regarding curriculum, teacher qualifications, and student enrollment.
* Charter Schools: Independently operated but publicly funded. They receive public money but are granted a "charter" – a contract – from a state, district, or other authorizing entity. This charter gives them more autonomy in curriculum design, teacher hiring, and operational practices, but they are still accountable to the authorizing entity for meeting the terms of their charter.
Funding:
* Public Schools: Primarily funded through local property taxes, state funds, and federal grants. Funding is typically distributed based on student enrollment.
* Charter Schools: Primarily funded through public funds, usually allocated per student from the state or district. They may also seek additional funding through private grants or donations, but this is not their main source of income.
Operations:
* Public Schools: Must follow strict guidelines on curriculum, teacher certification, student admissions (generally open enrollment), and other operational aspects set by the state and district.
* Charter Schools: Have more flexibility in designing their curriculum, selecting teachers (though they still usually need to meet basic certification requirements), and managing their schools. Some charter schools may focus on specific educational approaches (e.g., Montessori, STEM, arts-focused), while others may have a particular mission, such as serving at-risk students. While generally open enrollment, some charter schools may have lotteries to manage high demand or other specific admissions criteria.
Accountability:
* Public Schools: Accountable to locally elected school boards and state education agencies. Performance is generally measured by standardized test scores and other metrics.
* Charter Schools: Accountable to their authorizing entity, which monitors their performance against the terms of their charter. They may also face closure if they fail to meet performance standards or comply with the terms of their charter.
In short: Charter schools operate with more autonomy than public schools but still receive public funding and are accountable for results. The level of autonomy and accountability can vary considerably depending on the state and the specific charter. The impact and effectiveness of charter schools are subjects of ongoing debate.