charter school

noun

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Definition of charter school

: a tax-supported school established by a charter between a granting body (such as a school board) and an outside group (as of teachers and parents) which operates the school without most local and state educational regulations so as to achieve set goals

See charter school defined for English-language learners

See charter school defined for kids

Recent Examples of charter school from the Web

As my colleague James Vaznis recently reported, most of the school construction in this town is happening in the charter schools.

— adrian walker, BostonGlobe.com, "Another BPS superintendent has come and gone. Now what?," 1 July 2018
But the applications come at a challenging time for charter schools in the city.

— talia richman, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore school board considering six new charter schools," 4 June 2018
In New York, actress Cynthia Nixon, a fierce critic of charter schools, is challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who’s sparred with teachers unions.

— nicholas riccardi, The Seattle Times, "In key governor’s races, Democrats split on education," 3 June 2018
Privacy - Terms Supporters said the bill would ensure towns frustrated by a lack of facilities and resources from CMS can provide their own in the form of charter schools.

— jim morrill and ann doss helms, charlotteobserver, "'The towns have asked for a divorce.' Mecklenburg charter bill moves closer to passage," 31 May 2018
Indiana has invested heavily in charter schools — perhaps more than any state.

— mike hutton, Post-Tribune, "Hutton: Tom Johnson departs as Wheeler's boys basketball coach to take on 'huge crisis in public education'," 20 May 2018
As public schools re-segregate, the rise in charter schools has not helped this trend.

— lincoln anthony blades, Teen Vogue, "Why Brown v Board of Education Is More Important Than Ever," 17 May 2018
The findings: About 30% of low-income students in traditional public schools were proficient in third-grade reading in 2017, compared with 23% of those in charter schools.

— lori higgins, Detroit Free Press, "3rd grade reading: Michigan students show biggest decline, report shows," 6 Mar. 2018
Also by law, Callahan wrote, almost all teachers in open-enrollment charter schools must hold bachelor’s degrees.

— w. gardner selby, San Antonio Express-News, "Gubernatorial candidate claims half of new Texas teachers lack college degrees," 20 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'charter school.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of charter school

1988

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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CHARTER SCHOOL Defined for English Language Learners

charter school

noun

Definition of charter school for English Language Learners

: a school that is established by a charter, is run by teachers, parents, etc., and uses tax money but does not have to be run according to the rules of a city or state

CHARTER SCHOOL Defined for Kids

charter school

noun

Definition of charter school for Students

: a public school that is established by a charter describing its programs and goals and is supported by taxes but does not have to be run according to many of the rules of a city or state