| State Profile Title | Delaware Charter School Information |
| List of State's Charter Schools | http://www.doe.k12.de.us/programs/charterschools/listofDECS/list.shtml |
| Header | 03-06-00 |
| Brief Overview | Delaware first passed charter school legislation in 1995. There are currently 11 charter schools in operation serving 5,262 students. Two additional charters have been approved to open schools in September 2003. |
| Discussion Groups | Delaware Discussion Group |
| Schools | Delaware Department of Education
Delaware Charter Schools Network
For a list of Charter Schools in this state, contact the State Department of Education. Contact information appears below.
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| Participants | Delaware Participants |
| Key Contacts | |
| Legislative Summary | Legislation passed in 1995 states that there will be no state-wide limit on the number of schools in the state except for the first three years when only 5 are allowed per year. Each charter school must serve at least 200 students, but exceptions are made for schools serving at-risk populations. The state and local boards authorize charter schools, which can be operated by any individual, university, college, non-religious, non-home based, or non-sectarian entity. Delaware charter schools are waived of most state education laws and regulations, may be legally independent, and operate under a 3-year contract that can be renewed for 5-year terms. Operational funding is generally comparable with other public schools. State academic standards and assessments apply to Delaware charter schools.
Some recent legislative changes made during the summer 2002 session require all new schools to have a certificate of occupancy by June 15th prior to opening and parents to keep their child(ren) enrolled at the charter school at least one full year.
Link to Delaware state law:
Title 14, Chapter 5. |
