If there is a question that you have and you do not see it listed, please feel free to contact the school at 219-939-9690, or send an email to jsanders@csotd.org, please allow up to 48 hours for a reply.

What is a charter school?

Can anyone attend a charter school?

How are charter schools funded?

What do charter schools teach?

Are charter schools required to meet state education standards or offer standardized tests?

Q - What is a charter school?
A - A charter school is an independent public school that is designed and operated by educators, parents, and community leaders. It is sponsored by designated local or state educational organizations that monitor its quality. Because it is free of traditional bureaucratic red-tape, a charter school typically focuses on new and innovative approaches to teaching and management, specifically tailored to educational and community needs.

Q - Can anyone attend a charter school?
A - Yes. Like other public schools, a charter school must be open to every child regardless of race, religion, disability, or academic ability.

Q - How are charter schools funded?
A - Charter schools are public schools. Therefore, charter schools are not allowed to charge admission. They are funded according to enrollment, receiving money from the district and state according to the number of students attending.

Q - What do charter schools teach?
A - Charter schools bring diversity to public education by providing specific educational focuses, such as interdisciplinary studies, an emphasis on technology, or a back-to-basics approach.

Q - Are charter schools required to meet state education standards or offer standardized tests?
A - Indiana's law requires a charter school to offer the ISTEP+ and GQE exam, and its curriculum must be consistent with academic standards developed by the Indiana Department of Education and reviewed by the state Education Roundtable.