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American public education has changed in recent years. One change is that increasing numbers of American parents and teachers are starting independent public schools charter schools 。 In 1991， there were no charter schools in the United States. Today， more than 2，300 charter schools in 34 states and the District of Columbia. 575，000 students these schools. The students are from 5 years of age through 18 or older. A charter school is by groups of parents， teachers and community members. It is similar in some ways a traditional public school. It receives tax money to operate just as other public schools do. The it receives depends on the number of students. The charter school must prove to local or state governments that its students are learning. These governments the school with the agreement， or charter that permits it to operate. Unlike a traditional public school， ， the charter school does not have to obey most laws governing public schools. Local， state or federal governments cannot tell it what to 。 Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to those goals. Class sizes usually are smaller than in many traditional public schools. Many students and parents say in charter schools can be more creative. | 
