Across the United States of America, approximately three hundred new charter schools opened their doors in the 2018-19 school year. As this was prior to the onset of Covid-19, it is unlikely that this global pandemic was a leading factor. By comparison, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (2022) reveals that in 2018-19 there were 474 schools and campuses opened, the most in half a decade. Every year, there are charter schools that close their doors to students. However, at the same time, a considerable number of new charter schools open their doors to provide quality education in various communities. The charter sector has grown every year since their inception. What makes this most intriguing is the fact that the overall public sector has continued to decline in recent years with many students opting for homeschool or private schools. A variety of other school choice programs such as educational savings accounts (ESA) and vouchers have reduced the overall public sector. With charter schools growing within the public sector, many districts are growing increasingly hostile to their presence. This hostility is especially relevant given that a plurality of charter schools is authorized by the local school district.
Total Charter Schools and Campuses; Source: The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools “The Data Dashboard”