This report traces the origins, evolution and impact of Minnesota's pioneering charter school law--on its own schools, students, and communities and on the development of charter laws in many other states. It notes that, unlike what is now happening elsewhere, new schools are now being chartered at an accelerating pace in Minnesota. And because Minnesota has been chartering schools for more than a decade, the report found that many fundamental pieces of the infrastructure needed to maintain and accelerate that expansion are now in place. [This report is a product of the 21st Century Schools Project.]