What is a Charter School
A Charter School is a school established to provide students and parents with more choices in the types of educational opportunities and programs that are available within the public school system. The Legislature provides for charter schools through the California Charter Schools Act (1992) as a method to accomplish the following:
- Improve pupil learning.
- Increase learning opportunities for all pupils, with special emphasis on expanded learning experiences for pupils who are identified as academically low achieving.
- Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods.
- Create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site.
- Provide parents and pupils with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are available within the public school system.
- Hold the schools established under this part accountable for meeting measurable pupil outcomes, and provide the schools with a method to change from rule-based to performance-based accountability systems.
- Provide vigorous competition within the public school system to stimulate continual improvements in all public schools
The Natomas Unified School Board of Trustees first approved Natomas Charter School as a community-based charter school in the Spring of 1993. All Natomas Charter School academies are open to students who reside within or outside of the Natomas Unified School District.