Charter schools are independent, tuition-free public schools meant to provide an alternative to Delaware’s traditional school districts and serve students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
The term “charter” in charter schools is a contract that establishes the school’s mission, program and measurable goals.
Each charter school also has its own academic program, and they can only remain open as long as they remain true to that mission and deliver the promised results.
Charters also have a board of directors that is made up of parents, teachers and community members — these board members are not elected like public school boards, but they do govern and make decisions for the school.
Charter schools get operating money for teachers, staff and programs from the state and local school districts and funding is allocated based on the number of students enrolled. However, Delaware currently does not provide money for charter school facilities, so each school must fundraise for its buildings, facility maintenance and expansions.
How do I apply for a charter school?
Like with the school choice program, families must first register their child in their school of residence if they’re not already registered in a Delaware public school
The application for charters is called the Delaware Standard Application for Educational Options, which can be accessed from the Department of Education’s website. The application window is open from Nov. 4 until Jan. 8.
Charter schools can continue to accept applications after Jan. 8, but if they have more applications than spots available, then only the applications received by the due date will be considered in the lottery. Other applications will go to the bottom of the waitlist.
If the number of applications is the same as the number of spots available, all applicants will be accepted to the school.
However, when the number of applications is more than the number of available spots, then the school will hold a lottery with the student applications received by Jan. 8.
How do charter lotteries work?
Anyone who applied on or before the deadline will be placed in the blind lottery regardless of the day or time they applied, and students are chosen until the capacity is reached and the remaining students are put on a waiting list.
Lotteries will be held by mid-February and a decision will need to be given to the charter by March 21.
Charter schools can also give preferences, which gives certain students a higher chance of being accepted. There are different types of preferences, like sibling, location, and special interest preferences. However, students given these preferences are still put through the lottery system.
Sibling preference is giving first preference to applicants who are siblings of a current student. This can also be given to applicants who are children of current employees. However, there is no legacy preference – meaning the child of a prior charter graduate.
Location preference can be done in two ways. One is giving preference to applicants who reside in the district that the charter is located in. The second is giving preference to applicants who reside within a specific radius of the charter school.
When determining if special interest preference should be given, those who are in charge of admissions are given an objective rubric with specific criteria. For example, if a student is applying to a STEM charter high school, the rubric includes a test to determine if they’re at the 8th-grade math and English levels, recommendation letters from math and science teachers, a transcription to show math and science grades, and a list of different clubs. Some students may be given an interview to explain how they’re involved in ways that might not come across in their transcript or grades.
Do charter schools offer transportation?
Each charter school has its own bussing system, and they often use what’s called hub spots. Instead of a bus picking up your student where you live, you’ll bring your child to a bus spot in that feeder district where the school is located, and the bus will pick your child up there.
Some charter schools have access to DART bus passes for students in sixth grade and higher. The pass is available year-round and can be used on the weekends as well. The district that the charter is located in must buy the pass, individuals cannot buy it through DART themselves.
Charters also have the option to have the district they’re located in run their transportation. In those instances, students who live outside of that district can take a DART bus or have a van come to them.
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