There's an article in today's Daily Telegraph (London), written by Chris Woodhead, who was, until very recently, Chief Inspector of Schools. Part of it I reproduce:

On then to Arizona, the state that has done most to encourage the development of charter schools. A charter school is a publicly funded, privately operated state school.

The idea is very simple. Parents, teachers or businessmen might, for whatever reason, be unhappy with the quality of education offered by existing state schools. The charter school legislation gives them the opportunity to establish and run their own school. The school they create will receive the same funding per pupil as an ordinary state school, but it will not have to conform to the bureaucratic rules that determine what happens in state schools.

Anyone with experience of education in Arizona care to comment? How have charter schools worked? Are they successful? How does Mr(s) Average of Arizona view them? I shall be on holiday from now for (almost) a fortnight, but shall await your contributions with great anticipation (and might possibly be able to view a few before I go).