What's happening with charter schools?

• Position: NCSL Inside

It's hard to keep up with the news on charter schools. In five years, 21 states have passed charter school legislation, and close to 300 schools have been approved. New Jersey and Illinois most recently passed laws early this year. We expect another three or four states to follow suit soon.

Charter school laws are analyzed by the amount of autonomy granted to the schools. This includes the ability to hire and fire personnel, the level of budgetary control granted to the school and whether or not there is an appeals process for charters turned down by local boards of education. Laws granting extensive autonomy to charter schools are considered "strong" or "expansive." Laws granting limited autonomy are considered "weak" or "restrictive." State legislators can craft their laws to fit the educational needs of their school system. The terms "strong" and "weak" should not be considered synonymous with "good" and "bad." Although expansive laws lead to more activity, the implementation process can be difficult and expensive.

As the charter school idea has grown, so has its bipartisan support. Although it is considered a conservative movement by some, charter school sponsorship often crosses party lines. A wide array of national organizations support charter schools.

Funding is a major issue for charter schools. They often receive less money per pupil than regular public schools and usually receive no start-up funds. This puts severe financial pressure on organizers who must adhere to the same health and safety rules as...