A charter school is a type of public school. Charter schools provide education through a "charter," which is a type of contract granted by a chartering entity such as the commissioner of education, State Board of Education (SBOE), or the board of trustees of an independent school district. 

 

In 1995, Texas Education Code established a new type of public school, known as a charter school. Charter schools are subject to fewer state laws than other public schools with the idea of ensuring fiscal and academic accountability without undue regulation of instructional methods or pedagogical innovation. Like school districts, charter schools are monitored and accredited by the state. 

 

According to the Texas Education Code, the purposes of charter schools are to:

• improve student learning;
• increase the choice of learning opportunities within the public school system;
• create professional opportunities that will attract new teachers to the public school system;
• establish a new form of accountability for public schools; and
• encourage different and innovative learning methods.