School Social Work Practice in Charter Schools: Current Trends and Future Considerations

Since the establishment of the first charter school in 1991, over 7,000 charter schools have opened across the United States. Charter schools are publicly funded schools that are exempt from some of the local or state regulation and serve as alternatives to the more traditional public and private schools for many children and families. As charter schools proliferate across the United States, so does the number of school social workers employed by them. Even though school social work practice can vary widely across location, type of school setting, state educational policies, and contractual mandates, there is minimal research and limited information about school social work practices in charter schools. This article examines social work practice in the context of charter schools to provide charter school social workers with insight and information tailored to their unique school settings. The article will also review the history of the charter school movement and the impact of current charter school policies on social worker roles and interventions. Suggestions for future research are also discussed.