Charter schools in Arizona
In 1994, Arizona's Legislature approved the founding of charter schools - taxpayer-funded schools that may be run by private individuals, public bodies or corporations, often with a specific focus or mission. Either the Arizona Board of Education, the State Board for Charter Schools or a local school district must approve the charter. Today there are 509 charter schools in Arizona.
On average, charter schools receive less per-pupil funding than schools in public districts. Charter schools must accept any student who wants to attend, up to its enrollment limits, and serve students with special needs. They may not charge tuition.
