The first charter school was opened in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1992 by a group of teachers that wanted to support the education of older teens and young adults. Charter schools are public schools that cab be opted into, unlike a traditional public school to which children are assigned according to the location of their home. Charter schools are allowed to operate autonomously, but they have to adhere to the regulations of public schools. These schools cannot charge a tuition and they cannot be affiliated with a religious entity. Since their inception, many of them have evolved to specialized educational experiences. Here are six types of charter schools that you’ll find throughout the country.
1. STEAM/STEM
Utah charter schools meet a variety of educational needs. One of the more popular iterations of charter schools focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics). Schools that focus on STEAM encourage students to solve problems using both hard and soft skills. With technology driving many of the advances of modern society, it’s important to equip children with the skills needed to navigate the complexities that come with this technological and data driven age.
2. Project-Based
In project-based learning models, children have a chance to integrate all of the traditional subjects in one. Design thinking is a method of exploration much like the scientific method, and it is the driving force behind most project-based learning. Students get to take part in real-world projects that help them acquire transferable and deeper knowledge.
3. Language Immersion
In a language immersion school, children are learning traditional subject materials, while also becoming fluent in a target language. Typically, a part of the school day is spent learning in English, and the other part of the day is taught in the target language. Dual language charter schools hold their students to the same academic standards as monolingual public schools.
4. Place-Based
Place-based charter schools are just like any other school with the only difference being where the school is located. In a place-based learning environment, students are able to learn in an educationally inspiring location, like a museum or cultural center. The Museum School is one example of a place-based public charter school. This mode of eductation connects learning to the surrounding context and the community to positively affect educational outcomes, student engagement, and community involvement.
5. Montessori
Once upon a time, the Montessori method was a favorite for younger learners. But now it is more widely available to students all the way through high school. The Montessori method allows children to learn independently or in small groups. The goal of these charter schools is to promote social, cognitive, and emotional growth. Students are given a rigouros academic experience paired with purposeful work and experiental learning.
6. Environmental Science
In environmental science public charter schools, core academics and skills are taught through the lens of the environment and the natural world. Children get a chance to explore environemental issues while addressing achievment gaps for a variety of reasons. Much of the learning is rooted in real-world problems and helps to cultivate innovative thinkers who are conscientious community members.
There’s not right or wrong way to learn. Charter schools do a lot to challenge students in innovative and more targeted ways. For children who are looking to go into certain career paths, these schools can be very instrumental in helping them achieve those goals. If your child is a different kind of learner or has interests that you’d like to see cultivated in different ways, consider one of these type of charter schools.