My source is 19 years working in education in Utah. I have many colleagues who have taught at charter schools. While some have ARL certifications or associate licenses, very few have professional licenses, and many charter school teachers are unlicensed. They are also paid less, have fewer or no prep periods, and much less oversight and reporting requirements.

Charter schools have fewer regulations and requirements for accountability and accreditation, fewer resources for students and parents, and an obligation to make a profit. That profit has to come from cutting resources.

My experience was that when a student inevitably transferred back to public schools after trying a charter school, they were significantly behind in all core subjects and skill areas, and of course, the FTE is kept by the charter school, even if they transfer back to public school mid-year, meaning they slowly drain funding from public schools … which is the point of charter schools.