You may be asking yourself: what is a charter school? Chances are you've heard these schools mentioned in the media or by members of the community. Charter schools are a public school option offered to students in some areas. They operate independently from the public school system, and are a viable option for some students. These schools offer many benefits for students and parents alike, but they’re not for everyone. In this article, we hope to help you gather some basic knowledge of the charter school definition and learn tools for understanding and researching schools to help understand if a charter is right for your child.