A charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently from the traditional school district system. While regular public schools must follow many rules set by their local school district, charter schools have more freedom to design their own curriculum, teaching methods, and school culture. They get this independence by agreeing to a charter, which is essentially a contract with the state or other authorizing body that explains their educational plan and goals.

Charter schools are free to attend (they don't charge tuition like private schools), and they're open to any student who wants to enroll. If more students apply than there are spots available, most charter schools use a lottery system to decide who gets in. Like traditional public schools, charter schools receive government funding based on how many students they serve.

The trade-off for their independence is accountability. If a charter school fails to meet the goals promised in its charter, or if it performs poorly compared to other schools, the authorizing body can close it. Some charter schools focus on specific teaching approaches, like project-based learning or arts integration. Others might have longer school days or different schedules than typical public schools.