Cyber Charter Schools
States At A Glance
Draft – Work in Progress
California
 State board must authorize statewide operation of a charter school (2 approved); must have a “statewide
benefit.” High bar: must have a good track record with academic performance.
 The State Board of Education may not approve a petition for the operation of a state charter school under
this section unless the State Board of Education finds that the proposed state charter school will provide
instructional services of statewide benefit that cannot be provided by a charter school operating in only one
school district, or only in one county.
 Have about a dozen virtual schools, including K-12, Connections
 School districts can sponsor a charter school, but only students in contiguous counties can attend the
nonclassroom-based schools.
 The State Board of Education may, as a condition of charter petition approval, enter into an agreement with
a third party, at the expense of the charter school, to oversee, monitor, and report on, the operations of the
charter school.
 Have over 700 charter schools; districts are not responsible for charter schools, legal liabilities if they are
non-profit boards.
 To get 100% funding, cyber charters must spend 80% or more of total revenues on instruction (may avoid
this requirement if student performance is at a high level); spend 40% or more of public revenues on
certificated staff salaries and benefits; have a pupil-teacher ratio equal or lower than 25:1 or equal to or
lower than the pupil-teacher ratio in the largest unified school district in the county or counties in which the
school operates. Department reviews yearly applications for funds. Otherwise funding is 70%.
 All students eligible for special education services must receive these services, and the charter school
must recruit a student population with ethnic and racial representation similar to the counties served by the
program.
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All students must be given “access to a computer, Internet service, printer, monitor, and standards-aligned
materials based on State Board adopted academic content standards for each grade level and for each
subject studied.”
Each student must have an individualized learning plan.
78 percent of operating charter schools are site-based, and 22 percent are non-classroom-based or
combination site-based and non site-based.
Washington
 No charter schools.
 Statewide virtual schools use “Alternative Learning Experience” law
 At least four virtual schools operating in Washington.
o Programs must be accredited by ESD or NW Assn. of Accredited Schools
o Must have interdistrict transfer for students outside the district but Washington has school choice/district
choice so with few exceptions students can go to another district
o Must have at least weekly personal contact (phone, face-to-face, text messages, etc.)
o Student progress reviewed at least monthly.
o Teachers are Insight’s; affect district’s Highly Qualified Teacher rating.
o Teacher-student ratio under ALE is supposed to be 14:1 and how does translate in virtual setting
o Assessment is required (only 50% showed up at Insight) counts against enrolling district, not resident
district.
o Several schools operating, including Insight Schools through Quillayute Valley School District (about 1200
enrolled students, only 5-6 are resident students); K-12 (WAVA) with 2100-2500 students (pay
$1700/student for K-12 curriculum and use district teachers)
o There’s been some resistance to enrolling special needs students in virtual schools.
Idaho
 Virtual charter schools allowed by statute.
 No charter may be granted or operated by a for-profit entity.
 Virtual charter schools operating statewide must be approved by either the Idaho Public Charter School
Commission or the State Board of Education.
 Idaho has a seven member, Governor-appointed, Charter School Commission (three from local boards of
trustees, three from charter school boards, and one at large member).
 30 charter schools are currently in operation in Idaho. 16 are authorized by local school district; 14 are
authorized by the Idaho Public Charter School Commission.
Statewide Virtual Schools:
 Boise LEA, K-8
 Boise LEA, K-12
 Mountain Home LEA, 9-12
 Whitepine SD #288, K-12
Of the 10,993 charter school students, 3898 are attending virtual charter schools (2007-08).
Nevada
Dept. of Education approves all distance learning courses and programs. Students must be eligible to attend
distance learning courses (at –risk, independent study, school lacks classes, local board deems student would
benefit, etc.). Student must have at least weekly contact with teacher.
 Nevada State High School: Grades 11-12. Operates statewide, sponsored by Nevada State Board of
Education
 Nevada Virtual Academy. Grades 4-8. Sponsored by the Nevada State Board of Education.
 Nevada Connections Academy. Grades 4-11. Authorized by Nevada State Board of Education.
 Odyssey Charter School. Grades K-12. Sponsored by Clark Co. School District.
 Silver State High School. Grades 9-12. Sponsored by Nevada State Board of Education.
Montana
 No charter school law.
 Districts may offer distance learning, but must register with the state and provide course and program
descriptions program and course descriptions, including demonstrating that students have “ongoing
contact” with the online teacher, and verifying the qualifications of teachers.
 Montana has established the Montana educational telecommunications network (METNET) for the purpose
of instructional and educational coursework and materials through telecommunications delivery to students
in k-12th grade, community colleges, and university system, and teacher professional development. School
district may join the consortium.
 MONTANA DISTANCE LEARNING VISION STATEMENT: Implement a state-wide, non-profit, self funded,
member governed distance education program designed for and by Montana’s K-12 Public School Districts
using properly licensed and endorsed educators to provide exemplary instructional services to students
across the state utilizing the latest technology in a cost effective delivery system.
 Currently has task force in place to look at distance learning issues of implementing distance, online, and
technology delivered programs including issues around dual credit and funding.
Colorado
 Has statutes specific to online learning.
 Has state program and a variety of district sponsored cyber charter schools.
 All teachers must be licensed by the state.
Pennsylvania – one of most active cyber charter school states
 Online schools must be approved by state (special virtual charter school board; denials can be appealed to
special charter appeals boards)
 11 schools operating with 20,000 students
 Each school is its own LEA (school district)
 Funding: state gives virtual schools less in federal implementation grant
 Funding: reviewing cost structures of various delivery models for funding formula
Hawaii
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Single-district statewide, directed by state Board of Education (BOE) and administered by the
state Department of Education (DOE).
There are approximately 28 public charter schools among the 284 public schools.
Charter school applications are reviewed by a 12-member Charter School Review Panel
(CSRP). Recommendations to the BOE may include approval, denial or revocation. Six
CSRP members are affiliated with a public charter school.
BOE charter school program is administered by the Charter School Administrative Office
(CSAO) which reports to the CSRP.
Charter schools are operated by Local School Boards.
The charter school funding formula provides approximately one-half of what is allocated to
public schools, but does not include a special education factor, collective bargaining increases,
or facilities costs.
The DOE operates E-School as a supplementary education program, with credit courses
applied to graduation requirements. It serves 200-400 students per semester, out of
approximately 185,000 students. The summer program is fee-based; during the regular school
year there is no cost to the student.
There is no DOE operated statewide virtual school.
At least one for-profit virtual school operates in the state (Hawaii Virtual School) with credits
transferable to accredited public schools. It also enrolls students from outside Hawaii.
Alaska
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Up to 60 charters schools can operate statewide with no geographical restrictions.
Charter applications must be approved by the local school board and the State Board of
Education.
Funding for a charter school cannot be less than the amount generated by the students
enrolled in the charter school, and will be determined in the same manner. The local school
district can retain an amount for indirect costs, determined by the Department of Education.
A charter school can provide a statewide program, such as correspondence school. A
statewide correspondence school can also be operated by a school district.
Waivers to standardized achievement test requirements may be allowed under specified
circumstances. Schools are required to have 95% participation; can be difficult to achieve with
a correspondence school.
A correspondence school must meet the same curriculum, testing and adequate yearly
progress requirements of other schools.
Correspondence schools receive 80% of ADM calculation.
A teacher in a charter school is subject to the district’s negotiated agreement unless the district
and teacher’s bargaining unit agree otherwise.
A charter school is subject to the same auditing requirements as regular public schools.
One charter school operates as a statewide distance learning school; was referred to by
department staff as “like a home-school.” The charter requires the school to maintain a
minimum student body of 150. Students enrolling with fewer than 4 courses per semester and
who remain enrolled in another public school pay a tuition fee of $300 per semester credit
class.