Difference between state integrated schools and charter schools

	State integrated school	Charter school
Overview	State integrated schools are state schools that receive government funding to operate the school, and to maintain and modernise the integrated school buildings.	Charter schools are part of the network of state funded education provision in New Zealand. Charter schools have considerable flexibility around teaching, curriculum, governance, hours and days of operation. They can decide how to use their funding and can set their own curriculum. In exchange for this greater autonomy, charter schools are accountable for delivering outcomes via their contract.
Agreement	The proprietor enters into an Integration Agreement with the Minister of Education. The Integration Agreement records the integration terms and conditions, including the property to be integrated, maximum roll, and year levels offered. Integration agreements only include information about property and special character arrangements, because state integrated schools are otherwise generally subject to the same laws and regulations as regular state schools.	Charter schools are operated by a sponsor, which is an organisation that has signed a contract with the Charter School Agency to operate the school. The Charter School Agreement sets out all requirements including performance requirements.
Employment	State integrated schools are subject to the same state school teacher collective agreements as other state schools, covering teachers who are members of the relevant unions. Tagged positions may be outlined in the integration agreement. Tagged positions require staff to uphold the special character of the school and can make a willingness and ability to participate in religious instruction, a condition of employment. State integrated schools are subject to Public Service Act appointment requirements. Exceptions in section 28 of the Human Rights Act apply to enable different treatment on the grounds of religious or ethical belief.	Not subject to state school collective agreements. The charter school sponsor employs all staff and negotiates salary levels and employment conditions. A charter school sponsor is not subject to the appointment requirements of the Public Service Act 2020. Tagged positions can be the Chief Executive and the person responsible for teaching and learning at a charter school. There are no exemptions from the Human rights Act.
Property	The proprietor is responsible for providing classrooms and facilities at the school. Policy Two funding is sometimes available to integrated school proprietors to help with the cost of building a new classroom. The funding may be available if the school meets certain criteria.	A sponsor of a charter school is responsible for the school property. Sponsors are eligible for increased per-student funding that reflects a school’s roll growth, provided as part of ongoing operating payments.
Enrolment	An enrolment cap, and enrolment schemes apply. State integrated school has a special character and this informs their enrolment schemes under the Education and Training Act.	Charter schools have no roll cap and enrolment schemes don’t apply to charter schools. If a converting state school is a state integrated school, then the special character of the school must be maintained. A charter school must enrol all domestic students entitled to free enrolment and free education who apply to the school. They may decline to enrol a student if: enrolment of that student means that they would exceed the physical capacity of the charter school premises. The physical capacity can be adjusted if the sponsor chooses to lease or buy more capacity. a parent, or other person who has accepted responsibility for the education of the student, refuses to accept that the charter school operates in accordance with any religious, philosophical, or other distinguishing characteristics approved by the Authorisation Board and notified in the Gazette.
Fees	The proprietor of a state integrated school may, if the integration agreement for the school provides, agree with parents the payment of attendance dues as a condition of the child’s enrolment. The dues are subject to any conditions, approved by the Minister by notice.	Charter schools must provide free enrolment and education to domestic students, which means converting state integrated schools can’t charge attendance dues. If their integration agreement had allowed them to charge attendance dues, they can charge a property maintenance fee.