Insights into school governance and autonomy

Abstract

More than 25 years has passed since the first charter school legislation paved the way for one of the most controversial innovations to reshape and transform public education in America. The success of the charter school movement as a reform effort was rooted in legislation and policies designed to support elements of action and change to improve the quality of public schools. As the charter school movement matures and becomes a larger part of the American education system, the issue of governance is emerging as an important area of study and focus in the debate on charter school performance and accountability. This chapter describes the history of the charter school movement and the supporting role played by the federal government and state governments in its development. Additionally, this chapter explores the forces, beliefs, and assumptions behind the charter school movement in three areas, namely autonomy, accountability, and governance practices.