Frequently Asked Questions

By law, all charter public schools are just that — public schools. They are tuition-free and open to all students, enabling parents to decide which public school will best serve the unique needs of their children, whether that be district, vocational, or charter public schools. Due to statewide attendance caps paired with high demand from families, charter public school admission is determined by random lottery; there are no entrance exams or admissions requirements. Charter public schools are also managed by public boards of trustees, made up of community members and other local stakeholders, who follow the same laws and rules as district public school committees, including open meeting law, conflict of interest law, and public records requirements.

In exchange for greater flexibility, charter public schools must meet the highest standards of accountability of any type of public school. Overseen by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, charter public schools undergo extensive annual review and are subject to renewal – or closure – every five years. They must regularly report on their adherence to their charter mission and progress toward performance objectives, student demographics, staff turnover, professional development, discipline, finances, and more. Additionally, every charter public school is subject to an external financial audit every year. Perhaps most importantly, as public education options, charter public schools are accountable to families, who decide whether to keep their children enrolled in the school.

Charter public schools in Massachusetts have a proven track record of helping students reach their full potential. Studies consistently show that charter students are some of the state’s highest achieving. Data continues to show that students that attend charter public schools in MA show higher rates of college enrollment and persistence compared to their district public school peers. Independent studies also show that charter public schools lead in teacher diversity and are closing the achievement gap between low-income, Black, and Latino children and

affluent, white children. A 2023 study by the nonpartisan CREDO research center at Stanford University¹concluded that children in Massachusetts’ charter public schools gained the equivalent of 41 additional days of learning in both reading and math per year (or for every year they attended a charter), compared to similar students in district public schools. According to 2026 data from MIT Blueprint Labs², on average, MA charter public schools boost students’ state test scores by 6 percentile points in Math and 3 percentile points in English Language Arts (ELA) per year.

¹Based on Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes studies; data compares Massachusetts charter public school students to district students from the same demographic backgrounds and charter public schools to the district schools the students formerly attended.

² Based on Massachusetts Institute of Technology Blueprint Labs study; data estimates the effects of Massachusetts charter school attendance for students applying to charter lotteries from 2002 to 2022, focusing on changes over time.

Massachusetts charter public school students are diverse and reflect their communities. Statewide data show that charter public schools enroll a higher percentage of high-needs students³ than district public schools statewide. Demand for charter public schools has been strong since they first opened in 1995, with tens of thousands of families on waiting lists, hoping a seat becomes available in the school that they believe is the right fit for their child.

³ High needs students are defined by the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education as students that are designated as either low income, ELL, former ELL, or a student with disabilities.

Massachusetts charter public schools exist because communities and educators sought out alternative public school options. They are led by and integrated into their communities. Since 1995, over 67 Commonwealth charters have opened across the Commonwealth because families and educators refused to have their children’s education quality defined by their zip codes. Charter public schools have greater flexibility in how they approach key areas, including: curriculum design, staffing, teacher leadership, professional development, and school culture. This flexibility allows for innovative and creative approaches in the classroom, from early college to experiential learning to focusing on STEM or the arts, all in response to an individual community’s preferences and needs.