Suggests that more attention should be given to those charged with granting school charters, discussing different types of charter school authorizers (school districts, state boards or departments of education, other existing public entities, and new public boards created to serve as authorizers). Describes the roles and responsibilities of…

Presents an overview of charter schools, tracing the history of the charter schools movement and outlining charter school laws in the states. Charter schools have been aimed at breaking the mold of the large urban schools and promoted as a way to restructure urban public education from within. Summarizes concerns of charter school critics. (SLD)

Analyzed information from 14 charter-granting agencies (CGAs) to understand the challenges they have faced in their roles as charter school gatekeepers. CGAs use diverse strategies to meet their responsibilities, but in many cases the processes by which charter schools will be held accountable have not been well-developed. (SLD)