Background on charter schools

The Charter School Agency was established on 1 July 2024. The first charter schools opened in Term 1, 2025.

Charter schools are an evolution from partnership schools

Partnership schools opened in 2014. They were closed by the Labour Government in 2018. They either closed their doors or became state integrated or special character schools.

The charter school model was introduced following the 2023 election.

The charter school model was built on the lessons learned from the partnership schools programme. There are several key differences:

• Funding is now dependent on performance and we are more effectively measuring that performance.
• State schools can now convert to be a charter school.
• Schools have more flexibility in who they can employ as teachers

The introduction of charter schools is one of the ways in which the government is aiming to improve education. They add choice and diversity to New Zealand’s education system.