As educators, elected officials, and communities struggle to develop policies to strengthen and improve our education system, the role of charter schools has become a major issue.

Too often the debate is fueled by outlandish claims, emotionally charged language, and vague promises. Developing sound policy should be based on facts and actual oversight and regulatory experiences.

This list is designed to provide background information and useful policy tools to help communities grapple with how best to fit charter schools into their educational systems.