What Is The Legal Definition Of A Charter School In Delaware?

Is a charter school a corporation?  I’ve heard this question asked by many people in recent years, and the answer is yes.  They are definitely a corporation under legal terms in Delaware.  But they are accountable to the State of Delaware and their issuing authority agent.  For most charters, this is the Delaware Department of Education.  Only three charters in the state are accountable to their authorizing school district, Red Clay Consolidated: Charter School of Wilmington, Delaware Military Academy and Delaware College Prep.

But how does it all work?  This report from the Delaware Auditor of Account’s office gives crystal clear information in legal terms about what a charter school’s responsibilities and obligations are as a corporation.

State Auditor Releases Report On School Tax Collection & Agreed-Upon Procedures

Delaware State Auditor Thomas Wagner issued the annual “School Tax Collection and Debt Service Management Agreed-Upon Procedures Engagement” report for Fiscal Year 2014 on August 14th, 2015.

This includes all school districts.  What is interesting is the four school districts in and around the city of Wilmington.  Due to the restructuring of the former New Castle School District in 1981 into the current four school districts: Brandywine, Christina, Colonial and Red Clay Consolidated, the Delaware Department of Education actually allocates the taxes to the four school districts.  No big mystery or anything, but noteworthy!