What's in a name or a term?
Terminology at its most useful is self-explanatory and when there are two basically similar types of an entity the terminology used should capture the essential difference between the two types.
There are two types of public schools.
The familiar type of public school is variously referred to as a neighbourhood school, or a government school, or a public school (ignoring the existence of a second type of public school), or a regular school. The best term for schools of this type is regular school.
The second type of public school is similar to a regular school in that it enrols all children, charges no tuition fee, employs certified teachers, follows the jurisdiction's program of studies and holds no ceremonies on behalf of religious or political groups.
This best term for schools of this type is charter school.
The term "charter" describes the agreement reached between the jurisdiction's Ministry of Education and the non-profit society that owns or rents the school. The agreement is one of the differences between a regular school and a charter school, but it is not the essential one.
The essential difference is leadership structure.
The leadership structure in a regular public school starts with the quadrennial election of trustees, who are community members, to the school district Board of Trustees. The trustees hire a superintendent who hires many principals who then hire, according to regulations for seniority and bumping rights, the teachers for each school. This leadership structure can be described as trustee-run.
The leadership structure in a charter public school starts with the annual election of directors, who are primarily parents, to the non-profit society Board of Directors. These directors hire a principal who then hires, according to a shared philosophy of education, the teachers for the school. This leadership structure can be described as parent-run.
Again, there are two types of public schools: trustee-run and parent-run. These two types have similarities. For example the curriculum is the same, open enrolment is the same, no tuition is the same, and no religious observance is the same. And these two types have differences. The essential difference is the leadership structure. In comparison to a trustee-run regular school, the Board and Principal of a parent-run charter school will be very responsive to parental priorities.
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