Colorado Charter Schools

About

The Charter School Office serves as the vital nexus connecting charter schools, charter authorizers, education stakeholders, and the public with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). The office is one of two offices under the Schools of Choice (SOC) Unit and exists to serve families and support internal and external stakeholders who provide innovative, high-quality school choice options to students in Colorado that increase opportunity, access, and inclusion.

The Charter School Office is a key point in connecting state and federal policy to Colorado charter schools. It aggregates state data collections to author legislative reports and stands ready to address a myriad of policy inquiries. Moreover, it manages the statutory waiver process for all charter schools statewide, maintaining records on all contracts, contract terms, and waivers approved by the Colorado State Board of Education.

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SOC Newsletter Archive

Frequently Asked Questions

Office Staff Contact

What are Charter Schools?

Charter schools are tuition-free, public schools that have the flexibility to be innovative, entrepreneurial, self-governing, and yet are held accountable for student and operational performance. Open to all students, each of these independent public schools is different, increasing the variety of high-quality school choices available across Colorado.

From core knowledge, classical and early college curriculums to Montessori, language immersion and more, charter schools allow families to select the school that best fits their child's unique learning style. In exchange for operational freedom and flexibility, charters are subject to higher levels of accountability.

News & Updates

Modern AI-Assisted Robotics Research Experience for Teachers (MAR-RET)

Six weeks, full time, ~$6K stipend. Participate in actual AI-Assisted robotics research. Learn and customize/revamp 9-12 STEM curriculum that incorporates modern robotics applications (e.g., voice/motion recognition, color/object tracking, lidar-based perception, autonomous navigation), and receive a modern robot for classroom use in SY 25-26! Industry speakers. For more information and registration visit the MAR-RET website (application deadline has been extended until May 30th). Summer 2025 at Mines campus in Golden, CO.

Colorado Charter School Program

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Resources and Past Trainings

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Charter School Authorizers

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Opening New Schools

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Parent's Corner

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Data and Publications

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Please note: We are currently updating our website for improved accessibility and navigation and as a result, some links may be broken and resources unavailable. Please email soc@cde.state.co.us if you come across a broken link or needed resource. Thank you for your patience.