FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are Charter Schools? Why do they exist?
A. Charter Schools are publicly funded independent schools established by teachers, parents, or community groups under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority.
Charter Schools provide:
- Parent Choice
- Innovation
- Greater flexibility in return for greater accountability
- Incubators of best practices that share out best practices with the rest of the education system
Q. Are Charter Schools Public Schools?
A. YES. All charter schools, including Synergy’s elementary, middle, and high schools are public schools.
Public schools receive state and federal funding, are free to attend and open to all students.
Q. Do Charter Schools Charge Tuition?
A. NO. Charter Schools, including Synergy’s schools, are all free, public schools, and there is no tuition.
Q. Who Can Attend a Charter School?
A. Charter Schools are open to all students, admitted by public, random lottery.
Q. Were Synergy’s Schools Started by Billionaires?
A. NO. Synergy’s schools were started by teachers.
Q. Are Synergy’s Teachers Credentialed?
A. YES. Since Synergy’s schools are public schools, we must follow state and federal teacher credentialing laws.
Q. Are Synergy’s Schools Regulated?
A. YES.
- Synergy’s schools are authorized by LAUSD
- Charter Petitions are renewed every 5 years
- LAUSD does annual oversight visits
- Annual financial audit
- SQA is WASC Accredited
Q. Do Charter Schools Make a Profit?
A. NO. Synergy Academies is a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization.
- All LAUSD authorized charters are non-profit
- California banned for-profit charter schools
Q. Do Charter Public Schools Drain Resources from Traditional Public Schools?
A. NO.
- Charter schools are public schools
- Charters receive state and federal funding
- Funding based on ADA (attendance) and students served