Charter public schools have existed in Massachusetts since 1995, after enabling legislation was included in the landmark Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA) of 1993. Originally conceived as laboratories for educational innovation that could offer choice for families and competition for traditional district schools, charters are public schools that may not discriminate as to whom they accept.
The story of charter schooling in Massachusetts is, by and large, the story of an idea that took hold at the local level and was quickly adopted by legislators who saw charter schools as one key to addressing devastating problems with the state’s urban school districts. It is also the story of diverse groups of constituents—politicians, businesspeople, parents, and concerned citizens—coming together to create innovative schooling options for the Massachusetts students that need them most.
Located in the “bicep of Cape Cod,” the Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, is widely considered that area’s economic and municipal hub. Home to a thriving business sector, healthcare facilities, an airport, and a host of other municipal services, many of Cape Cod’s citizens rely upon Barnstable and its seven surrounding villages for economic and cultural prosperity.