The Charter Difference
Charter schools are independently managed, open admission, public schools funded by the state. First approved by the Texas legislature in 1995, charter schools are run by private operators and boards, much like private schools, and can offer a more specialized range of curriculum. While publicly funded by the state, charter schools receive significantly less public funds than comparable traditional public schools. Despite this, charter schools are held to the same accountability standards as other public schools but do have more freedom over hiring and removing staff.
Like traditional public schools, charter schools are tuition-free, must publicly report their financial and academic performance, comply with all federal laws and most state laws and administer the state testing TAKS. There are some unique differences, however.
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Unlike "magnet" schools, with applications to "screen" students, admission is open and based on lottery.
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Focus on K-12 so we can vertically align curriculum.
- Rigorous college preparatory curriculum features both Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.
- Empowered school leaders who can manage their budgets and make decisions about their staff.
- More time-on-task. We have extended days and school years.
- Dual board structure. We have an overall Uplift governance board to set overall strategy and policies while maintaining financial responsibility and accountability. Additionally, individual local boards for each of our campuses ensure appropriate focus on student and school performance, as well as contribute to local campus culture.
