Why 'Charter' Schools?

While GCSNet’s mission focuses on the establishment and advancement of green charter schools, its work on schooling for sustainability supports all schools. Green educational programming, project-based experiential learning, and outdoor education are flourishing in charter schools because these schools can break the mold of traditional approaches and provide innovative and effective new options within the public education system. With an eye on future forces affecting the environment and education, the GCSNet’s leadership is persuaded that it is critical for our nation to rethink the ways public education can better serve its crucial role in the development of a sustainable society. Chartering is a relatively new delivery system option that will help the “public” in public education to be more active in dealing with the critical challenges related to the environment and education in a broader, longer-term context of change for a sustainable future.