About Charter Schools
Charter schools are public schools which are, by definition, independent organizations. They are granted a charter to operate as a school by one of three entities: The Board of Regents, The SUNY Trustees or a local school district. All programs and policies for a charter school are defined in the school’s charter documents. Charter schools are run by either management companies or by independent Boards of Trustees and are legally bound to operate in a fiscally and ethically responsible manner in accordance with their charters.
A good website for basic information is the New York State Department of Education Public School Choice FAQ page.
The New York State Charter School Association, located in Albany, NY, is an organization that advocates for and raises awareness of charter schools throughout New York State.
The Western New York Charter School Coalition is a local grant-funded organization that strives to strengthen and support charter schools in Western New York through cooperation and communication.