Accountability

A charter school governing body is accountable for a charter school. It is responsible for making sure that charter board policies are followed (i.e. the charter terms, provincial legislation, regulations, and policies). The governing body is also accountable to its local school board or to the Minister of Education, depending on which party established the charter school. It is the responsibility of the school board or the Minister to ensure that the charter school is operated according to the charter and that it achieves the results that have been outlined in the charter.⁶

Charters must design a student assessment model that will accurately evaluate achievement. Students are required to write provincial achievement tests and examinations required by the Minister of Education. A charter may be revoked if it is believed that the charter school is not succeeding. However, if is the school board that revokes the charter, the Minister, who ultimately has the final say, can overturn the decision.⁷

Governance

In Alberta, the only Canadian province that has charter legislation, there is the allowance for charters that are rejected by the school board to be submitted to the Minister. This stipulation was put in place to ensure that a sound charter could not be rejected by an uncooperative school board. Charter laws work to protect the principles of public education and build in maximum potential for promising innovations.⁸

In Alberta a corporate body, in accordance with section 24. 1 (l) of the Alberta School Act, operates charter schools.⁹ This charter corporate body represents parents, teachers, and community members. The charter must define the charter corporate body, determining its membership, roles, responsibilities, and selection process. The charter must also have bylaws and policies for board governance as well as for the governance of the charter school itself.¹⁰

Funding

Charter schools receive the same per pupil funding as other public schools. The main difference however is how those funds are allocated. In regular schools it is estimated that only two-thirds of the per-pupil allotment actually reaches the schools; much is spent on bureaucracy. In a charter school system funds are directly allocated, meaning that almost total control of the funds lies with the charter school itself. Therefore, according to the charter, some schools have the option of finding the best and most cost- effective services from either the school district or another competing source. Existing school board contracts no longer restrict them.¹¹

Charter schools may also raise funds on their own. This can be done through private sector donations as well as general fundraising. It is important to remember that Charter schools may not charge for tuition.¹²