Charter public schools often help revitalize neighborhoods by turning vacant buildings into vibrant schools and community spaces. In doing so, school leaders face challenges like high retrofit costs, acoustical problems, and the need for extensive building system upgrades, all without access to fair funding.

A volunteer board of directors, made up of community members and other local stakeholders, governs charter public schools. These public board members volunteer their time to serve, and share a deep commitment to ensuring every child in Rhode Island has access to a high-quality public school. Like school committees and boards of education, charter public school boards are subject to the open meeting law, conflict of interest law, and public records requirements.