(1) The purposes of the state's charter schools are to enhance school choice, meet the unique needs of Utah families, and encourage innovation within the public education system by:
(a) continuing to improve student learning;
(b) encouraging the use of different and innovative teaching methods;
(c) creating new professional opportunities for educators that allow educators to actively participate in designing and implementing learning programs at the school;
(d) increasing choice of learning opportunities for students;
(e) establishing new educational models and new forms of accountability that emphasize unique performance measures and innovative measurement tools to measure education outcomes;
(f) providing opportunities for greater parental involvement in governance decisions at the school level;
(g) expanding public school choice in areas where there is a lack of school choice or where schools have been identified for school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring; and
(h) collaborating within the public education system.
(2) As described in Section 53G-5-401, a charter school is a public school for all purposes under Utah law, including:
(a) the Legislature's authority under Utah Constitution, Article X, Section 3, to designate schools and educational programs, including charter schools, as part of the public education system;
(b) eligibility for public funding and resources;
(c) access to public facilities and property;
(d) participation in public school programs and initiatives; and
(e) application of laws governing an LEA.