WHAT IS A CHARTER SCHOOL?

Creating CHOICES —Inspiring INNOVATION

Maryland charter schools are independent public schools with the freedom to innovate while being held accountable for improved student achievement. We foster partnership between parents, teachers and students to create an environment in which parents can be more involved, teachers are empowered and students excel.

Maryland public charter schools are public schools and are free and open to all children throughout the state.

Program

Public charter schools create unique communities by choosing their own curriculum, pedagogy and enrichment programs. Across the state public charter school offerings include arts integration, language immersion, Montessori, science and technology and classical instructional methods.

staffing

Charter school teaching staff and the principal, are employees of the local school district and not the charter operator. As such, they are subject to the collective bargaining contracts negotiated by the local school district with the appropriate unions and covered by all applicable state and local policies and regulations including certification.

admission

The majority of Maryland public charter school's require families to submit a free student application to enroll. There are no admission requirements beyond living in the jurisdiction where the school is located. Since applications often outnumber available seats, public charter schools often hold lotteries to determine student admission status. Students who do not gain immediate admission to their school of choice are often placed on a waitlist.

Funding

Maryland law requires local school districts to fund public charter schools at a level commensurate with traditional public schools. Unlike traditional schools, charter schools do not receive separate funding for facilities, which means charter schools must rely on operating funds or special fundraising to pay for capital improvements, repairs, mortgages, leases or other capital costs.

Maryland's First Charter School

The founders of this charter school are a group of committed parents who worked for two years with the local Board of Education to provide a public alternative to traditional school settings. Because no one educational approach is successful for all children, the set out to expand the educational options available in Frederick County.

Why Montessori?

"Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world."

-Dr. Maria Montesssori

01The Montessori method has a 100-year history of being a successful educational program for the vast majority of children, including many who do not thrive in a traditional classroom.

02Many of the Founders of this school have had experience with Montessori education in the past, and the research results confirmed their personal experiences.

03Modern research in the fields of neuroscience, cognitive science, child development and linguistics has strongly supported Montessori's methods. Studies have shown that children attending Montessori preschools on average are one to two years ahead in learning to read and write and in learning math skills.