| For the past two decades, diverse stakeholders have been trying to reform public schools. Among these reforms are charter schools which embody: choice, innovation, regulatory flexibility, and accountability.;The purpose of this study was to examine the educational programs of three charter schools and to describe their distinguishing characteristics. The goal was to understand the differences inherent in their programs. The research questions were: What are the characteristics that distinguish these three charter schools? and, In what ways do their educational programs align with standards of effectiveness, innovation and research-based education?;The design was a multi-site case study. The thee schools were from the Northwest. Data were gathered and described using triangulation of documents, interviews and observations.;The study's findings included a description of the characteristics of each school and its distinguishing characteristics. It concluded with a summary of the findings and recommendations for parents and practitioners. |
