Implementation challenges for charter schools

This qualitative study explored the challenges encountered during the implementation phase of a local high school's conversion to charter status. Data were gathered during interviews with three school board members, three district office administrators, and three members of the charter school staff. The primary focus of the interview questions was to discover how the participants felt about critical elements of implementation, school autonomy, and school accountability for student achievement and school goals. Responses from the three groups were compared and contrasted within and between groups. Interview data were triangulated with charter school implementation findings from research reports and the charter school application. All participants agreed that the charter transition went smoothly with' an exception concerning financial issues. The overall finding with respect to autonomy was that the school had some autonomy, especially in the daily decisions and school operation. There were a variety of school strategies to promote student achievement and school goals progress; however, the superintendent felt that more time was needed in order to give a complete and fair assessment of the school's performance as a charter school.