The Case of the First-Year Charter School

Abstract

Charter schools are growing at a phenomenal rate because of the deregulation of education in many states. Exempt from many rules that constrain public schools, charter schools can use any means to accomplish their goals, such as offering an ethnocentric curriculum or focusing on technology, science, communications, or the arts. However, there is a dearth of research on charter schools. This article explains how one urban charter school struggled during its first year to overcome several barriers, such as the school’s initial facility, limited curricula, and certain administrative policies, to become a cohesive team that nurtured a unique community of learners.