Frequently Asked Questions

Worthington Area Language Academy

Charter schools are public schools that provide choice for parents and students within the public school system. Charter schools are:

• Operated independently from the school district in which they are located
• Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or as a teacher cooperative
• Staffed by teachers who have appropriate state licensure
• Funded primarily by state general education revenue with start-up funding in the first three years provided by the federal government
• Located in leased facilities, funded in large measure by lease aid, a state program that provides per pupil funding to compensate for the fact that charter schools cannot own property, levy taxes, or issue bonds
• Open to all who apply, except if the school is over-subscribed, in which case a lottery is held for all of the students who applied before the deadline. Once a student is enrolled, siblings are given preference in admission.
• Free of charge
• Accountable for academic and non-academic outcomes
• Sponsored by a school district, an institution of higher learning, a nonprofit organization, or a foundation
• Reviewed every three years by the sponsor to determine whether the charter will be renewed
• Governed by a board of directors made up of parents, teachers, and community members elected by the school community