Charter Schools in colorado

Charter schools in Colorado are tuition-free public schools. Charter schools are specifically “chartered” to have the flexibility to offer a different curriculum than traditional public schools. At Windsor Charter Academy, we are authorized by the Weld RE-4 School District to offer elementary and middle school students Core Knowledge Curriculum and high school students concurrent enrollment courses through our partnership with Aims Community College.

Facts About Charter Schools

How are charter schools the same as traditional public schools?

Charter schools:

• Are tuition-free public schools open to all students.

• Are publicly funded.

• Are not private schools.

• Use non-discriminatory enrollment practices.

• Have no test-in requirements to enroll.

• Are not religiously affiliated.

• Are held accountable for student achievement in the same ways as traditional public schools. Students are required to take state assessments, including CMAS and PSAT/SAT.

• Are subject to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

How do charter schools differ from traditional public schools?

• Charter schools operate under a charter (or contract) between the charter school and its authorizer. Windsor Charter Academy is authorized by the Weld RE-4 School District.

• Charter schools are semi-autonomous public schools of choice. Students will not automatically be assigned to a charter school based on where they live. Charter schools have a defined enrollment policy and parents must apply.

• In general, charter schools have more flexibility than traditional public schools with regards to curriculum, fiscal management, and overall school operations, have their own governing boards, and may offer an education program that is more innovative than traditional public schools.

How does Windsor Charter Academy operate differently than traditional public school?

• At Windsor Charter Academy, we:

  • Elect our own Board of Directors.

  • Establish our own vision, mission, and strategic plan.

  • Establish our own daily schedule and yearly calendar.

  • Teach Core Knowledge Curriculum to elementary and middle school students.

  • Offer concurrent enrollment courses to high school students. Students have the opportunity to earn an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from Aims Community College without having to leave our high school campus.

  • Require uniforms at our at our elementary and middle school, and implement a dress code at our high school.

  • Spend our financial resources in ways that support our unique programs.

What other major differences can I expect as a Windsor Charter Academy parent?

• Small Class Sizes: Our elementary school class sizes are capped at 26 students and are not increased due to local population increases. Our middle and high schools also have capped enrollment for each school.

• Parent Involvement: Each family is required to volunteer 35 hours per year.

• Innovative Transportation Options: School busses are not offered for transportation. Parents at Windsor Charter Academy have the opportunity to transport their children to and from school, participate in our active carpooling program, or take advantage of our before and after-school programs.

How does Windsor Charter Academy work with the Weld RE-4 School District?

Windsor Charter Academy has a long-standing, positive partnership with Weld RE-4, our authorizing school district. Weld RE-4 supports school choice and has been an advocate for Windsor Charter Academy since its inception 20 years ago. Strong relationships between charter schools and authorizing districts are rare. Windsor Charter Academy’s strong district-charter partnership serves as a successful model for other schools and districts in Colorado.

Where can I learn more about charter schools?

• Colorado League of Charter Schools

  • Charter School Basics

  • Advocacy Network

  • Legislative Updates

• Colorado Department of Education Charter School FAQs

Charter School Funding

• Colorado charter schools are public schools, thus they are funded with state taxpayer dollars in the form of Per-Pupil Operating Revenue (PPR). Student funding follows those who choose to attend charter schools; therefore, all funding stays public educations system. Charter schools do not take away funding from the public school system.

• Funding for facilities, security, and other operations for charter schools are often less than what traditional schools receive. Fundraising is needed to help charter schools bridge the gap to pay for these expenses.

• School districts finance their facilities using property taxes, mill levies, and local bonds. Charter schools generally do not receive a proportionate share of these funds. Windsor Charter Academy’s inclusion in Weld RE-4 bond initiatives is a testament to our long-standing, positive partnership with Weld RE-4.

• Colorado charter schools follow the Public School Financial Transparency Act like every school district in the state, requiring them to regularly post detailed financial information online for public access.

Charter Schools in Colorado

• Colorado is a pioneer in charter school law. Currently, Colorado’s charter school law ranks #2 in the nation.

• Colorado has the 2nd highest percentage of charter public school students in the country, relative to total state enrollment. There are over 266 charter schools in Colorado serving over 131,000 students.

• Charter school enrollment in Colorado is 15% of total public school enrollment in the state. There are more students enrolled in Colorado charter public schools than in any single district in the state.

• Charter schools serve a broad range of students, including: low-income students, racial and ethnic students of color, and students with disabilities or other special needs.

• Colorado charter schools are geographically dispersed across the state and serve urban, suburban, and rural communities.

• Charter school students generally outperform state averages across all academic achievement categories.