Idaho Department of Education

A charter school is a public school that must, as a condition of its charter, have an open enrollment policy. Charter schools have a cap or limit the number of students they can accept. If the number of applications to a charter school exceeds the capacity of the school, all applicants will have an equal chance of being admitted through a random selection process or lottery. A lottery is conducted in the spring before the school opens and the charter school governing board is required to hold the lottery in a public space. There are certain preferences that must be applied before the lottery is conducted. For example, Idaho Statute allows a charter school to give enrollment preference to children of founders and full time employees, provided that this preference does not exceed 10%. The students not chosen to attend the charter school by the lottery process are placed on a waiting list. Once a space becomes available, the charter school will contact the first name on the waiting list to fill the empty spot. The waiting lists are redone every year.

A virtual school is a school that delivers a full-time program of instruction primarily through the use of technology via the internet in a distributed environment. Virtual schools are authorized by the Public Charter School Commission. Idaho has eight (8) virtual charter schools and one (1) distance education charter school.

A charter school is accountable to the students and families in the school, the local school district or the Public Charter School Commission (PCSC), and Idaho taxpayers. The charter school authorizer oversees the charter school and holds them accountable for fulfilling the charter and following all state and federal laws. Charter schools are also required to participate in the state-mandated assessments. It is through the state assessments and graduation rates that charter schools, along with all other public schools in the state, are measured.

Charter schools do not charge tuition. They receive state funding similar to school districts, however they do not receive additional funds from public levies or bonds.

Charter schools must follow state and federal laws governing public schools; however, there is some flexibility in rules for charter schools. To read Idaho charter-specific laws, click here.

Yes. As a public school, a charter school must comply with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and any state special education laws.

All charter schools are different even if they use the same curriculum. Ask questions about the school’s educational program, leadership (governing board and administration), faculty, and policies. Most schools will provide a Parent/Student Handbook, which includes general information. As you learn more about specific charter schools, keep your child’s needs in mind. What type of educational approach best suits your child? Think about what you are looking for in a school such as geographical proximity, a specific curriculum, or a particular focus. An additional resource for information on specific charter schools will be their website.

Due to finances, some charter schools do not provide bus transportation for students. Parents often organize car pools to provide transportation. Other charter schools have agreements with their school district to share bus service. Whenever this is done, the agreement is in the written contract.

Public secondary schools serving grades 9-12, including alternative and charter schools, are required to attain accredited status through the Northwest Accreditation Commission/AdvancEd. Public elementary and middle schools and private schools may voluntarily seek accreditation. Charter schools are subject to all accreditation requirements.

Yes, although teachers may apply for any of the limited certification options as provided by the State Board of Education.

The Idaho Department of Education has a specific team that works with charter schools and those who want to start a charter school. The Idaho Department of Education provides technical assistance to persons or groups preparing or revising charter petitions. The department also conducts charter school workshops to those who want to start a charter school. Additionally, the Idaho Department of Education works with charter school boards and authorizers to provide support or information as needed.

The Public Charter School Commission (PCSC) was created by the Idaho Legislature in 2004 to serve as an alternative, statewide authorizer of public charter schools. The Commission consists of seven (7) appointed members and is staffed by the State Board of Education. The PCSC has the authority to approve or deny charter school applications and monitors charter school operations.

The parent should begin by contacting the personnel within the charter school, specifically the Administrator. If that does not satisfactorily address the issue, make the governing board of the charter school aware of the issue. If unresolved there, the next step would be to contact the organization that authorized the charter school, either the local district or the Idaho Public Charter School Commission. The Idaho Department of Education does not authorize charter schools nor oversee the operation of charter schools within the state.

You can attend charter school board meetings. The dates of the meetings are posted on their website and are open to the public. Results can also be found on the School Report Card. Financial information for the school is available on their web site. The Idaho Public Charter School Commission publishes annual reports for the schools they authorize on their website.

Any person, or group of persons, may submit their petition to the Idaho Department of Education. The group of founders should have experience or expertise in the following areas:

• Education and school operations
• School finance
• Business operations
• Marketing and communications
• Non-profit organizations

The Idaho Department of Education must review the petition first to make sure it is legally sufficient. Once the department deems the petition as legally sufficient, the founders submit the petition to either the local school district or the Public Charter School Commission (PCSC) if it is a virtual school. If a private school wants to convert to a charter school, they must close first.

No. In 2012, the Idaho Legislature removed the limit on the number of charter schools that can be approved.

From the draft petition to implementation, it usually takes two years for a charter school to open.

Yes, a denied charter school applicant may appeal to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction within 30 days of the date of the written decision. A hearing officer will be appointed to review the charter petition and convene a public hearing. Details to the denial process can be found in Idaho Code §33-5207.

Funding for public education follows the student. If a student chooses to attend a charter school the funding will follow that student. The funding formula is based on three things:

• Average Daily Attendance
• Experience and education of teachers
• Type of students taught

The formula is consistent for all public schools.

Charter schools can apply for the Federal Government Charter School Program (CSP) grant for startup and implementation needs. This is a competitive grant process and the funds are limited to availability of federal funds. Currently Idaho does not have Federal CSP funds available. Interested groups need to apply directly to the US Department of Education.

No. Charter schools do receive funding for facilities from the State. That funding is based on the enrollment and a percentage of the statewide average of bond and facilities levies.

Yes. Most charter schools have fundraising events to raise money for their school to offset costs.