Charter Schools

FAQs

  • What is a charter school?
    Answer:

    Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are run independently of the school district and may also have a specialized focus. Charters are granted by the State Board of Education and schools may enroll students in Grades PK-12 as established in their charters.

  • What are the purposes of charter schools?
    Answer:

    The general purpose of charter schools is to establish an alternative means of education within the existing public school system, which provides innovative learning opportunities to improve the education of students.

  • Who is eligible to attend?
    Answer:

    Charter schools are open to all students, but the charter may limit the geographic areas from which students may attend. The charter school holds a lottery if there are more applicants than spaces available. Districts are required to give charter school personnel access to schools for recruiting purposes.

  • Does the school provide for the needs of special education students?
    Answer:

    Yes. In the case of a charter school, the responsibility for holding the planning and placement team (PPT) meeting belongs to the district where the student lives. The charter school is responsible for ensuring that the student receives the services required by the student's individualized educational program (IEP), whether those services are provided by the charter school or by the school district in which the student lives. For more information, contact the Bureau of Special Education via telephone at 860-713-6910 or visit the Web site Staff Directory.

  • How will my child get to school?
    Answer:

    The local or regional board of education where the charter school is located must provide transportation for students attending the charter school who live in the district. Parents of students who live out of the district where the charter is located may need to provide transportation for their child if the charter school does not.

  • Who pays for these schools? Will the parent have to pay tuition for the student?
    Answer:

    Parents do not pay tuition to send their child to a charter school, operating costs for state charter schools are funded through a state grant. Pursuant to changes in the law for the 2021 legislative session, effective July 1, 2021, state charter schools received a per-pupil base grant of $11,525 for each student enrolled.

     

  • Whom do I contact to enroll my child in a charter school
    Answer: Contact the charter school directly. For information on new charter schools, call the State Department of Education Charter School Office at 860-713-6574.

    If you are a parent/guardian or student in the greater Hartford region and wish to obtain information about an application for open choice, interdistrict magnet schools, technical high schools, or regional agriculture science centers, please contact the Regional School Choice Office (RSCO) at 860-713-6990 or visit its Web site.