Charter schools are public schools, funded by tax dollars. Their primary revenue source is a per-pupil allocation from the state government, which is derived from school district spending through a standard formula. The formula ensures that charter schools always receive fewer dollars per pupil than what the district spends on an average per-pupil basis. This is true even after accounting for the in-kind services, such as transportation and textbooks, that charter schools receive from their local school district.
In 2008-09, charter schools received even less when the formula was set aside and per-pupil funding was frozen at the previous year’s level. Learn more about the per-pupil funding issue.
Charter schools are eligible for federal funding for disadvantaged and disabled students, as well as certain federal grants. Unlike traditional public schools, charter schools do not receive any funding for school facilities whatsoever.
In New York City, some charter schools are allowed to operate in buildings owned by the local school district; the rest must pay for facilities out of their operating budgets and/or private donations.
