Charter schools are public schools that are intended to provide innovative programs with specific educational philosophies and/or delivery models that offer additional options for students and families within the public school system.  Charter schools are 501(c)3 organizations that enter into a contract with Portland Public Schools for sponsorship and they maintain a high level of autonomy in exchange for increased accountability.  Charter schools are governed by Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 338.

PPS is responsible for oversight and monitoring of all charter schools sponsored by the district.  PPS collects required annual deliverables, monitors financial stability and student performance, and ensures that the charter school is compliant with law and the contract.  Additionally, PPS provides support and partnership to charter schools in a variety of ways – technology support, monthly directors’ meetings, and professional development, to name a few.

Charter school enrollment must be fair and equitable, and may only be limited by the age of the student, the grade of the student, and the space available.  No other admissions criteria may be used.  If a charter school receives fewer applications than it has spots available in a particular grade/class, then all applicants should be admitted.  If the charter school receives more applications than it has spots available in a particular grade/class, then it must conduct an equitable, blind lottery to determine enrollment for that class/grade. 

A charter school may admit students who reside in other districts, but priority must first be given to students who reside in the district where the charter school is located.  Charter schools may employ a sibling preference provision after a student has been enrolled for the prior school year, but this is not mandatory.  Charter schools manage and run their own application cycles and lotteries.

Yes, charter schools are public schools and are free to attend. 

Yes.  Charter schools partner with the district for Special Education (SpEd), as the district is ultimately responsible for ensuring that students in need of SpEd services receive them.  PPS provides SpEd learning center teaching staff, speech/language pathologists, and school psychologists to charter schools, and charter schools work with these teachers to provide a comprehensive education for all students. 

Charter schools are responsible for serving the needs of students qualifying as English Language Learners.  This can be done in a variety of ways, but each charter school must produce a plan that is: (1) based on a sound educational theory or legitimate experimental strategy; (2) implemented effectively, and (3) produces results that demonstrate that language barriers are being overcome.

Students who live anywhere in Oregon may attend PPS charter schools.  However, for the purposes of the admissions process, PPS resident students receive first priority for enrollment.  If there are spaces left in a particular grade/class once all interested PPS students have enrolled, then the charter school may enroll students who reside in other districts.

The vast majority of charter schools’ funding typically comes from Oregon’s State School Fund, which are public dollars allocated for education.  By statute, charter schools must receive a minimum of 80% of the per-student dollar amount for students in grades K-8, and 95% for students in grades 9-12.  Charter schools can apply for and receive grants and private donations, and can conduct fundraising activities.

This depends on the school and the facilities that are available at the charter school.  Charter schools are not required to provide sports.  However, students who attend charter schools do have the right to participate in sports at their neighborhood school.

Charter schools are required to ensure that transportation is not a barrier to enrollment of their students.  Given that charter school students can come to the school from all areas of the district, charter schools can employ a variety of options such as: organizing parent carpools, providing direct transportation, providing bus passes to families and/or students, etc.  Charter school students are also eligible to ride on already-existing district bus routes, if the stops are convenient to the charter school.

Most charter schools typically follow the PPS calendar, but they are not required to.  Some charter schools offer extended school days or a longer school year.

The birthday cut-off date for entry into Kindergarten in Oregon is September 1.  Each district in Oregon may choose to implement a process by which parents can apply to have their student(s) enter Kindergarten early, if the child’s birthday falls after this date.  Charter schools that offer Kindergarten may choose to adopt an early entry process, but this is not required.  

PPS charter high schools are required to be accredited.  Any charter school not serving high school may be accredited, but this is not required.