Summary: The number of charter schools, which offer a new model for public education, is growing rapidly. Charter schools are intended to address several concerns about public education, including unresponsive school district bureaucracies, restrictive rules, and a lack of accountability for student performance. In exchange for autonomy from state and local rules and regulations, charter schools are held accountable for meeting the terms of their charters, which may stipulate academic outcomes. Slightly more than half of the charter schools GAO surveyed received fiscal year 1996 start-up grants ranging from $7,000 to $84,000; the average amount was $36,000. The schools used this money for various purposes, from curriculum materials and equipment to building renovations and leases. Although most charter school operators who expressed an opinion said that they received a fair share of federal title I and Individuals With Disabilities Education Act funds, charter school operators also cited a number of barriers to obtaining this money, including (1) difficulties in establishing program eligibility, (2) workload demands, and (3) a lack of program and administrative experience. They said that outreach and technical help were critical to helping them access federal funds. Several states and the Department of Education have launched initiatives to help charter schools obtain federal funds.
