Are Charter Schools Public Schools?;by Shawgi Tell at Diane Ravitch blog.

Charter schools are not public schools; p rivately-operated nonprofit & for-profit charter schools differ in profound ways from public schools -- Read how:Charter schools are exempt from dozens, even hundreds, of state and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, and agreements that apply to all public schools. They  are not governed by a publicly elected school board, but by a self-selecting, corporate-style board of trustees and do not uphold open-meeting laws; they dodge many such public requirements. Many do not provide the same services as public schools, e.g., transportation, nurses, food, sports, education services. Many are not subject to audits.Thousandsare directly and/or indirectly owned, operated, or managed by private, for-profit entities...more...