Community organizing as a means of developing common interests

Charter schools are publicly funded schools usually governed by a group or organization authorized by a contract or charter with the state. The charter exempts the school from state or local rules and regulations. Although the rules differ in different states, a school's charter is reviewed (typically every 3 to 5 years) and can be revoked if guidelines on curriculum and management are not followed or standards are not met.

• In 1991 Minnesota passed the first charter school law.
• By 1995, 19 states had signed laws allowing for the creation of charter schools.
• By 2004-05, 40 states and the District of Columbia allowed charter schools.
• In 2007 there were 4, 147 charter schools serving 1.2 million students across the country (National Center for Education Statistics, 2008; US Charter Schools, 2008).