The South Carolina Charter Schools Act of 1996 defines a charter school as a public, nonreligious, non home-based, nonprofit corporation forming a school that operates by sponsorship of a public school district, the South Carolina Public Charter School District, or a public or independent institution of higher learning, but is accountable to the board of trustees, or in the case of technical colleges, the area commission, of the sponsor which grants its charter.

 Purpose of a Charter School:

• improve student learning
• increase learning opportunities for students
• encourage the use of a variety of productive teaching methods
• establish new forms of accountability for schools
• create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site
• assist South Carolina in reaching academic excellence
• create new, innovative, and more flexible ways of educating children within the public school system, with the goal of closing achievement gaps between low performing student groups and high performing student groups

S.C. Public Charter School District Website

Erskine Charter School Website

Still Have Questions? Email: schoolfacilities@ed.sc.gov