They are independent public schools that get state funds for their students like regular public schools do, but operate free of school district control. They are run by teachers and parents in some cases, and in other cases by management companies.

There are 68 operational schools statewide.

They offer a variety of specialties, including programs for at-risk kids, arts and sciences, technology, language immersion and culture.

Their claims to fame include City Academy in St. Paul, the first charter school in the nation, established in 1992. And the 1995 discovery of deformed frogs by students of Minnesota New Country School in Henderson launched a statewide pollution investigation.

More information is at the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools Web site: http://www.mncharterschools.org/ .

Source: Minnesota Association of Charter Schools.