The Maryland Public Charter School Act was passed into law on
May 22, 2003. The general purpose of the Charter School program
is to establish an alternative means within the existing public
school system in order to provide innovative learning
opportunities and creative educational approaches to improve the
education of students. Maryland’s law defines a public charter
school as a public school that is nonsectarian, is chosen by
parents for their children and is open to all students on a
space available basis. A public charter school can be either a
newly created school or a conversion of an already operating
public school. A public charter school operates with the
approval of a local board of education in accordance with a
written Charter Agreement executed between the local board of
education and the administrative entity operating the public
charter school. Just as any other public school, a public
charter school is subject to federal, state and local laws
prohibiting discrimination and must comply with al