What best describes charter schools?

Charter schools are best defined as publicly funded but independently operated schools. This means they receive funding from the government, similar to traditional public schools, but they have greater flexibility in their operations, including curriculum design, school governance, and teaching methods. The independence allows them to create innovative educational approaches while still being accountable for academic results and financial management. They operate under a charter, which is a performance contract granting them specific operational freedoms in exchange for meeting particular educational standards and goals.

This distinguishing characteristic of charter schools being both publicly funded and independently operated sets them apart from traditional public schools and private institutions, making option C the most accurate description.